Now there is also certainty here: There will be no Würzburg city festival this year. How city marketing justifies its decision.
Photo: Patty Varasano
From the small court festival at the winery to the large Kiliani folk festival – the list of events canceled due to the Corona crisis is getting longer and longer. And now city marketing is announcing that the Würzburg city festival has to be canceled this year.
“The fact that there cannot be a ‘normal’ city festival in Würzburg this year is something most people have already become aware of after the cancellation of the Oktoberfest in Munich,” writes city marketing director Wolfgang Weier in a related press release. “We didn’t make the decision easy.” The board, the managing director and the project manager, together with some other participants, also discussed the idea of a modified “Stadtfest light”.
Major events may be banned in September
After much discussion, however, the decision was made to forego hosting the 32nd city festival in 2020. “For one thing, we don’t want to raise hopes among the companies involved,” writes Weiher. Because it must be expected that the ban on major events, which previously applied nationwide until August 31, will be extended into September. Preparing for a city festival or participating in it costs money on all sides, is time-consuming and planning must start at the end of May at the latest. “From our point of view, it would not be serious to work with all our might towards a major event that, with a certain probability, cannot then take place.”
Photo: Patty Varasano
–
City marketing wants to avoid the risk of spreading
In addition, Weiher emphasizes, the risk is too high that even with a modified city festival variant, there would be an increased virus spread due to the probably significantly increased visitor volume. The board of directors cannot and will not be responsible for the fact that, by holding the festival, it may contribute to Würzburg once again becoming a Lower Franconian corona hotspot. “It would be better not to do it this year and then decide again next year,” it continues.
“Then it would be better not to do it this year and decide again next year.”
Wolfgang Weiher, Managing Director “Würzburg is fun”–
By the way: This is the second time that a city festival in Würzburg cannot take place. The Würzburg City Festival has been organized by the city marketing “Würzburg is fun” since 1988, at that time with a large stage and in 15 streets. When the terrorist attacks in New York changed the world on September 11, 2001, the city festival was canceled a few days later that year. “Corona is also changing the world – to an extent that we cannot yet estimate,” says Weiher. He asks all friends, partners and those involved in the Würzburg City Festival for understanding for this decision.
–
-
Wurzburg
-
Sophia Scheder
-
Corona virus
-
celebration
-
Oktoberfest
-
City festivals
-
Stadtmarketing Würzburg is fun
-
terror attacs at the 11th September 2001
-
Wolfgang Weier
-
Würzburg is fun
–
–
–
