Event: “Rainbow Festival”: With rainbows and music against agitation

With rainbow colors, good mood and live music against hate and agitation: 22,000 people celebrated the premiere of the “Rainbow Festival” in Cologne. At the ten -hour event, the No Angels, Zoe Wees, the Weather Girls, Felix Jaehn and Loreen were announced on two stages.

“At the moment, every festival is important that celebrates diversity and tolerance and ensures visibility,” said entertainer Olivia Jones of the German Press Agency. The Hamburg woman moderated the festival and also reminded of Christopher Street Day in Budapest, which was originally banned by the Hungarian government.

“Half of the heart is in Budapest today. I think it is important that some EU MPs from Germany support our friends,” said Jones. “If I didn’t moderate this festival, I would have accompanied it.”

Mallorca mood in Cologne

The “Rainbow Festival” started in the early afternoon at around 30 degrees on Lake. Right from the start, party singer Mia Julia (“Bring me home”) provided Mallorca feeling.

“For me it is a little knighthood because I have been committed to free love for years. My sister is married to a woman, I am bi – so it is particularly important to me to keep the rainbow flag up. Whether here or on the Ballermann,” she told the dpa.

Controversy around the Village People

The appearance of Village People, who played in the inauguration of US President Donald Trump, provided account. Trump used her hymn “YMCA” for his election campaign. The CSD Cologne then distanced itself from the festival. The organizers of the festival explained that they could not terminate valid contracts.

“The political issues should move far into the background today. Even if freedom and openness are political issues for the community in the broadest sense, we should celebrate and have fun,” said organizer Markus Krampe.