The oldest trade fair in Upper Austria is located in Freistadt. Here in the Mühlviertel, an exhibition in 1862, at that time still in the Kinsky family castle on Zemannstraße, initiated a lively agricultural and commercial exhibition activity. Then as now, the goal of the exhibition organizers was to strengthen the economy of the region and to present the handicraft and agricultural products. In the 20th century, the exhibition was expanded to include an amusement park: in 1906, visitors could have fun in the optical cabinet and on the carousel.
For the 160th anniversary, which has now been celebrated, a comprehensive trade fair chronicle is now available for the first time. Author Heidemarie Pöschko links the most important milestones in the history of the trade fair with personal memories from contemporary witnesses, exciting excursions into the amusement park and analyzes of the changes in the economy and society in our time. The 160-page book was presented to more than a hundred invited guests at a festive evening in exhibition hall 2.
The question of the importance of a trade fair in the 21st century was also addressed in several rounds of talks on the evening of the celebration. Precisely because of the flood of available information, personal contact, person-to-person conversations, is irreplaceable even in the 21st century, emphasized Trade Fair President Franz Kastler. What does he wish for the future? “Furthermore such a good trade fair team as today – and that many people from our region stand behind the Mühlviertel trade fair!”
At the same time as the exhibition chronicle was published, a special exhibition on the Mühlviertler Messe was launched in the Mühlviertel Castle Museum in Freistadt. Under the motto “market, trade fair, merry-go-round”, visitors are invited to a tour of the fair of a special kind. You can experience highlights from the history of the Mühlviertel trade fair as well as highlights of culinary trade fair specialties – from roast chicken to cotton candy to Turkish honey – and of course photos of the popular marquee bands such as the Linzer Buam.
The first Freistadt “Mess’Bier”, which was bottled with the support of the Braucommune Freistadt, was also presented on the occasion of the anniversary. It is available at the Mühlviertler Wiesn and Erlebnismesse from August 12th to 15th. There are samples when you visit the special exhibition in the Castle Museum. Incidentally, the exhibition chronicle is also available here – as well as in selected bookshops.
Source: Nachrichten
