Düsseldorf's Disheartening News for the Riflemen Club
The Rhine Carnival 2025, held from July 17 to July 26, attracted over four million visitors, a significant increase from the previous year. However, the event was marred by a tragic incident on July 18, when a fireworks display went wrong, causing 19 people, including children, to be injured[1][3].
The cause of the accident remains unknown, but the police have described it as accidental[1][3]. The injured individuals were transported to medical facilities within an hour, with four of them in serious condition[1][3]. The festival organizers have expressed deep regret over the incident and are considering whether the fireworks tradition will continue in future editions of the festival[1][3].
Despite the unfortunate incident, the Rhine Carnival 2025 had several successes. The shooting club's festival area was successfully transformed into a concert area, and the event attracted more visitors than ever before[2][3]. In addition, a cooperation over ten years has been agreed with the organizer of the drone show, which will become a new tradition of the Rhine Carnival[3].
The carnival also saw a decrease in emergency service deployments, with only 68 compared to 84 in 2024[4]. However, there were 223 individuals caught urinating in public during the carnival, and the medical service treated 736 people, with 68 requiring hospital transportation[5].
Looking ahead to next year, the Rhine Carnival 2026 will take place from July 17 to July 26, and the carnival ferry, which did not work out this year, is planned to run reliably next year[6]. At the closing press conference, the faces of Andreas-Paul Stier, Sven Gerling, and Manfred Kirschenstein were serious, reflecting the mixed emotions of the event[7].
In an effort to improve safety and security, a total of 246 youth protection checks were conducted during the carnival week, with 393 checks conducted in 2024[1]. Police officer Jannik Moelller reported a peaceful and joyful event, with only 11 cases of bodily harm compared to 30 last year[8].
In terms of innovations, Sven Gerling summarized three planned for this year's Rhine Carnival[9]. The Rhine Carnival 2025 was indeed a memorable event, with its high points overshadowed by the unfortunate fireworks accident. The organizers and authorities are working hard to ensure that future editions of the Rhine Carnival will be safe and enjoyable for all.
[1] https://www.duesseldorf.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/07/27/rheinkirmes-2025-jugendschutz-kontrollen [2] https://www.duesseldorf.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/07/27/rheinkirmes-2025-schiesssportverein-konzertarena [3] https://www.duesseldorf.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/07/19/rheinkirmes-2025-feuerwerk-unfall [4] https://www.duesseldorf.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/07/27/rheinkirmes-2025-betriebswerk [5] https://www.duesseldorf.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/07/27/rheinkirmes-2025-gesundheitsdienst [6] https://www.duesseldorf.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/07/27/rheinkirmes-2025-fuehrung [7] https://www.duesseldorf.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/07/27/rheinkirmes-2025-schlusspressekonferenz [8] https://www.duesseldorf.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/07/27/rheinkirmes-2025-polizeieinsatz [9] https://www.duesseldorf.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2025/07/24/rheinkirmes-2025-innovationen
- Despite the unexpected tragedy caused by the fireworks accident at the Rhine Carnival 2025, there was a significant decrease in emergency service deployments, with only 68 instances compared to 84 in the previous year.
- The future of the fireworks display at the Rhine Carnival is uncertain as the festival organizers contemplate whether to continue the tradition, in light of the accidental fireworks accident that injured several individuals during the 2025 event.
