For days they have been coming to the southern edge of the Olympic Park at around eight in the morning. “We pretend we’re going to open next week,” says organizer Julian Hahn, who is currently setting up the nostalgic circus tents and fairground stalls for the “fairy tale bazaar” with his helpers from the Wannda association. “It is currently difficult to motivate us to do so,” said Hahn on Wednesday.
The day before, the Christmas market on Marienplatz and the winter magic on Viktualienmarkt were canceled by the city. After a consultation in the city’s crisis management team, Munich’s mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) announced that, in view of the rapidly increasing number of infections, he considered it to be a wrong signal to hold off the two markets.
On Wednesday, the seven-day incidence for Munich was 496.6, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). But what does that mean for the other, smaller markets that normally take place in many parts of the city during Advent?
There is one thing in particular among the organizers: uncertainty. On the one hand, the cancellation from the town hall is putting the private organizers under pressure, on the other hand, there has been no official ban on major events so far. Therefore, private organizers can continue to open their Christmas markets – as long as they adhere to the regulations.
Limitations also generate costs
For example, they have to limit the number of visitors within the event area and adhere to the 2-G plus rule. This means that only vaccinated and genesis patients may be admitted who can also show a negative rapid test result.
“The personal restriction and testing would be feasible for us,” says Julian Hahn from the fairy tale bazaar. The area in the Olympic Park, where the Tollwood takes place in summer, is fenced. On top of that, he could imagine setting up a test station in front of the entrance.
“If there are further restrictions, we have to see whether we can manage that,” says Hahn. He therefore wants to wait and see what the Prime Minister’s Conference this Thursday will turn out to be. In addition to the changes to the Infection Protection Act, the Christmas markets will also be discussed there.
At Marienplatz, the frustrated stand operators have to pack up again.
(Photo: Florian Peljak)
Bavaria’s Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) had expressed understanding for the decision of the Mayor of Munich, but has so far ruled out a corresponding order for the entire Free State, as there is no legal framework for it.
According to Söder, it is possible to wear a mask, controlled access to gastro islands and large distances so that there are no crowds. However, all of this should first be discussed at the federal level.
In any case, in the imperial court of the Residenz, which Prime Minister Söder likes to show off at state receptions, the traditional winter village is already finished. It should have opened this Thursday. The Bavarian Palaces and Lakes Administration does not see itself responsible in this case, as it says on SZ request.
You have rented the area to a private organizer, according to a spokeswoman. This responded. “We have postponed the start by a day,” says Winterdorf operator Eduard Rosai, who has been running various rides with his family as a showman at the Oktoberfest for decades. He first wants to know what the prime ministers will decide.
Waiting for the prime minister’s decision: Winter fun is still being worked on in the inner courtyard of the residence.
(Photo: Sven Hoppe / dpa)
The operators of the Tollwood Winter Festival on Theresienwiese also want to wait and see. Spokeswoman Christiane Stenzel says that they are currently coordinating with the Munich authorities. Nothing has been decided yet.
A fence is also usually installed around the Tollwood site. In the summer, the organizers had already checked the visitors for vaccination, convalescence or test status at a lock.
The construction on the Theresienwiese is almost finished. Normally around 600,000 visitors come to the festival meadow in the run-up to Christmas. There was already a cancellation last year due to the corona.
A picture from carefree days: At the Tollwood Winter Festival on the Theresienwiese – here an impression from 2019 – there is usually a dense crowd.
(Photo: Robert Haas)
While the larger organizers are still hesitant, the smaller ones have surrendered to the effort. The Christmas market at Sendlinger Tor: canceled. The Pasinger Christkindlmarkt: canceled. The Harras Christmas Market: canceled.
With a heavy heart, the team of the Munich Ice Magic at Stachus announces that ice skating will not take place this year, although everything has already been set up. “We would like to show solidarity with the mayor’s decision to cancel the Munich Christmas market,” writes the Able family in a press release.
Meanwhile, the parties in the Munich city council are demanding adequate financial compensation for the stand operators. A corresponding concept should be worked out in December, demand the SPD / Volt parliamentary group as well as the parliamentary group The Greens – Pink List.
The CSU demanded unbureaucratic compensation for the costs of personnel, goods and construction. According to the CSU proposal, part of this solution could be for the city of Munich to buy goods that have already been procured and distribute them to social institutions or those in need. There is also the suggestion that you can buy the Christmas goods from artisans and other exhibitors online.
Just erected, now already being dismantled: a mulled wine stand at the Christmas market on Rotkreuzplatz.
(Photo: Sven Hoppe / dpa)
The booths are also located on Rotkreuzplatz. But this magic will not take place this year either. “We canceled the Christmas market because of all the editions,” said Edmund Radlinger from the Munich Weißbiergarten Betriebs GmbH on Wednesday morning.
That had not been clear the evening before, as the decision from the district administration department had not yet been received. In the meantime, however, the spokesman for the Munich showmen and market merchants, whose company runs the Christmas market on Rotkreuzplatz together with the Neuhauser Christmas Market Association, knows “that these city guidelines would cost us 25,000 euros extra”. Because the market area has to be fenced in and the entrances have to be controlled by personnel. That, says Radlinger, is “not economically feasible”. What is he feeling? Frustration. “2G, plus a test, a mask and distance – what security level do we actually want to achieve, I ask myself.”
Last year, when the market had to fail for the first time due to the corona, there was a festively decorated Christmas tree by the fountain on Rotkreuzplatz to set the mood. In addition to the Christmas tree that adorns the square every year anyway. This year the Romanplatz was actually intended for the second tree. The space from last year has now been vacated again at short notice.