For almost 100 years now, the Wels family of showmen, the Rieger family, has been an integral part of the Rieder folk festivals with their fairground rides. When the doors open for the children’s afternoon at 3 p.m. this Wednesday (admission is free on all five days), then seven rides from the Rieger company will be ready to go. In total there are more than 20 different rides in the amusement park.
“On Monday, we started construction work with around 30 employees. It will be a precision landing,” says Rieger Managing Director Ludwig Rieger. Around 700 tons of material were transported to the trade fair center on 20 articulated lorries. Living and sleeping places for Rieger employees will also be set up on the exhibition grounds. “We have toilets, showers, washing machines, dryers and a lounge with everything. Actually, you have to imagine it like a small hotel,” says Rieger, who has a very special connection to Ried. “I was born in Ried in 1970, so the city next to Wels is a second home for me,” says the 51-year-old.
The showman has a good feeling for the Oktoberfest, which lasts up to and including Sunday: “The mood at the 2021 folk festival here in Ried was bombastic. It was also clearly seen at the previous events this year that people after this fear and Want to get out scared because of Corona to enjoy their freedom,” says Rieger, who remembers his time as a “matchmaker” with a laugh.
“When there were no smartphones, online dating platforms or Tinder, our Autodrom was in a certain way a platform for getting to know each other. I believe that a number of marriages also started at the Autodrom in Ried. When one couldn’t call everyone together on their cell phones, we just met at the autodrome.” That was the classic, according to Rieger. In addition to the Autodrom, there are several classic rides: Tagada, Break Dance, Chaos, Geisterbahn, Dreamland or Panic should not be missing at the Innviertler Oktoberfest, which is accompanied by the OÖN as a media partner.
The amusement park opens at 3 p.m. today, the marquee at 5 p.m. The guest garden in front of the beer tent is open from 3 p.m. Admission and parking are free for all five days.
Source: Nachrichten
