Wacken's Mud Festival has concluded
This summer, two popular festivals in Germany experienced different challenges but managed to deliver enjoyable events for their attendees.
Heavy rain at the start of the Stuttgart City Festival turned large parts of the area into mud and sludge, but festival organiser Thomas Jensen expressed satisfaction with the event. Despite the adverse weather conditions, the festival was officially sold out with 85,000 fans in attendance. The location for this year's event has changed to the old town, providing a unique and picturesque setting for the festivities.
Meanwhile, the Wacken Open Air festival, held in Schleswig-Holstein, ended on Sunday night with 85,000 fans in attendance. The organisers brought in a record 3,500 cubic meters of wood chips to stabilise the surfaces, 600 times the normal amount, to cope with the wet conditions. However, one notable health issue was the cancellation of the band Gehennah due to the hospitalisation of their member Rob for over a week, which caused the band to withdraw from the lineup at short notice. The organisers addressed this by securing a last-minute replacement band, Space Chaser, to maintain the festival schedule.
Crowd control and inclusion measures were also a focus for the Wacken Open Air festival. The organisers continued their focus on accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities through their "Wheels of Steel" area, which offers a dedicated camping zone tailored to special needs, along with expert support and additional low-barrier sanitary facilities such as showers and toilets to better accommodate attendees with disabilities.
The Henkersfest, an event taking place in a city's old town due to safety reasons, is facing issues other than weather. Meanwhile, the 46th EZ Football Cup is currently taking place in Reichenbach.
In a surprising move, the ticket prices for next year's Wacken Open Air festival will increase from 333 to 349 euros. However, the price increase will be credited for food for the first 10,000 on-site tickets.
Despite the challenges faced by both festivals, it is clear that they are committed to providing a memorable and enjoyable experience for their attendees.
The Henkersfest, held in a city's old town, also presents unique challenges, possibly not related to weather. In the realm of sports, the 46th EZ Football Cup is currently in progress in Reichenbach. Meanwhile, organizers of the Wacken Open Air festival, though dealing with large amounts of rain and the necessity of 3,500 cubic meters of wood chips for stabilization, continue their dedication to music entertainment, securing a last-minute replacement band for a canceled act and ensuring a focus on accessibility and inclusion.
