“It feels like coming home”

Cotton candy. ferris wheel. marquee. It feels like he’s never been away – despite the fact that the Corona crisis has made it impossible to hold the Urfahraner Markt for the past two years. This did not dampen the enthusiasm for the traditional format. The mood on today’s opening day is exuberant, and there were already large numbers of visitors on the fairgrounds this Saturday morning.

While for some it was an opportunity to refresh old childhood memories, others experienced their “Urfahraner Markt” premiere today. So did the six-year-old Helena, who, with her two older siblings and parents, did not miss the hustle and bustle. The goal of the day: “Have fun and enjoy a good meal.” And of course, one or the other detour to one of the rides should not be missing. Incidentally, the Ferris wheel was only very popular with dad, the children were more drawn towards the ghost train and water slide.

“We expect a record number of visitors”

“It feels like coming home. We’re like a big family here,” said the restaurateur hotelier Lisa Sigl, who can be found with her husband Michael Nell at her stand with sausages and the like. In addition to well-known faces, there are also some “new” ones to be discovered at the comeback of the Urfahraner fair. The unanimous tenor – there as well as there – “it’s nice that something is finally happening again”.

Around 12 noon – after the tour of the market with Mayor Klaus Luger (SP) and City Councilor Doris Lang-Mayerhofer (VP) responsible for markets – the speeches and the beer tapping in the marquee followed. After all, traditions want to be maintained. Today’s visit to the Urfahran market was also a premiere for Lang-Mayerhofer, the first time she was employed as a market consultant. She is confident that the nine-day spectacle has lost none of its fascination: “Everyone longs for a relaxed atmosphere. We are actually expecting a record number of visitors.” In the pre-Corona times, the fair attracted more than 500,000 visitors to the Donaulände, and this limit has to be broken.

“It’s a celebration for all of us,” said Mayor Luger during his speech in the marquee. Today’s opening and the walk down from Wildbergstraße to the fairgrounds were something special: “I’ve never seen as many people as today in the past 30 years.” Now it’s after the long dry spell caused by the corona and the difficult years for the showmen Now it’s time again to let social gatherings and the fair culture live up. “That’s also what makes this year’s Urfahraner market such a particularly great event.”

Three and a half beats later the beer was flowing

The concern then arose briefly that after the long Corona break, the traditional beer tapping could become a challenge. Three and a half taps from the mayor later, however, that was forgotten – the beer flowed hesitantly at first, then faster and faster. Not only Luger and Lang-Mayerhofer were happy about that, but also landlord Patrick Stützner and Josef Paukenhaider, regional sales manager from Brau Union.

There was and still is a lot to discover away from the marquee: Tonight (from 9.30 p.m.), for example, the big opening fireworks are on the program, as reported it will remain the only one this year. On Wednesday, the fire brigade promises a varied program at Florianitag, the final Sunday on May 8th is all about brass band music.