It is basically possible to ignite rockets and firecrackers again at the turn of the year on New Year’s Eve. The ban on selling fireworks from 2020 and 2021 is over. However, the restrictions known from before the start of the pandemic apply, particularly in the two old towns of Wolfratshausen and Bad Tölz. By general decree, the two municipalities have issued a ban on firecrackers in these zones in order to protect the historic building from the risk of fire. While the administration of the district town asks to refrain from private fireworks and organizes professional fireworks at midnight on the Isar bridge, there will be no central rocket spectacle organized by the municipality in Geretsried and Wolfratshausen.
Fireworks are a centuries-old art form, says pyrotechnician Alfred Fraas.
(Photo: Hartmut Pöstges)
In the rafting town, Alfred Fraas is one of the few state-certified large fireworks in the region. On New Year’s Eve, however, he will only privately shoot rockets that have remained lying around into the night sky, as he says. In general, Fraas regrets that in Wolfratshausen, from his point of view, there is a rather negative attitude towards large fireworks. For him, this is shown by the fact that there is no longer a raft procession for the Johanni raft. “That’s a shame,” says Fraas. “A fireworks display is actually an art form that has been around for centuries.” Despite all the discussions about fine dust and noise pollution, many are happy about it, he believes. Fraas would like to implement his idea of hands-on fireworks at some point. As a state-certified large fireworks technician, he can train interested people to become helpers with whom he can then organize such a spectacle.
On New Year’s Eve and New Year, Wolfratshausen generally kept the same rules as at the turn of the year 2019/2020. This means that in the old town on the Obermarkt and Untermarkt it is forbidden to ignite Class II pyrotechnic objects – New Year’s Eve rockets and firecrackers. This is also not permitted in the adjacent streets such as Humpl-, Seiler-, Morasch- and Dr.-Happ-Gassl or on the Loisachufer. In addition, the ban on firecrackers applies to the Eichheimweg, which leads through the mountain forest above the old town. The argument is based on the risk of fire for the inner-city buildings. According to the city’s general decree of December 20 of this year, violations can be punished with fines of up to 5,000 euros.
For reasons of noise protection, it is generally forbidden to ignite fireworks in children’s and old people’s homes, hospitals and churches, says the Geretsried town hall manager, Ute Raach. These legal regulations apply in the largest city in the district. In addition, there are no designated ban zones within the city of Geretsried. “Everyone can do whatever they want on private property,” says Raach. “Just like before Corona.”
The Tölzer Marktstraße is one of the most historically significant streets in Upper Bavaria. The Munich architect Gabriel von Seidl uniformly redesigned and restored the row of houses after 1900, which is under ensemble protection. There is a strict ban on fireworks on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, just like in the neighboring district of Gries, on Kalvarienberg, on Kogel and on Ried. This densely built-up old town area is at risk of fire, explains city spokeswoman Birte Otterbach when asked. This applies in particular to Markstraße, because this is where the wooden stalls of the Christmas market are also located. According to the Tölzer general decree, rockets, swarmers, firecrackers and batteries fall under the prohibited class II fireworks.
To this end, the city of Bad Tölz is organizing a professional fireworks display at the Isar Bridge. This should also avoid wild banging. “We ask the population to refrain from small private fireworks,” said Otterbach. For security reasons, the Isarkai car park will be closed from 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve to prepare for the fireworks. Various gastro stands open on Marktstraße after 8 p.m. Lenggrieser Straße will also be temporarily closed at midnight. Visitors should not enter the security zones. On the eastern shore of Lake Starnberg, the Ambach recreation area would offer plenty of space and a far-reaching view. According to the district office, the lighting of fireworks is not allowed there.