“My daughter is singing along,” said Birgit Fabritius proudly. For her, the choir is simply a wonderful communal experience. “We have rehearsed intensively for two months,” revealed Roderick Palamar. The pupil sang first alongside 100 other children and young people. At 7pm, the moment had come: the people struck up the song - pure goosebumps in front of the Old Town Hall.

Hours earlier, Thomas Zimmermann, owner of the Lepehne-Herbst dance school and designated Carnival prince, had called out to the crowd: “Bonn, are you ready?” Dancers brought the stage to life with a break-dance performance and people danced along. But visitors did not only flock to the Rathausplatz during the 21st Bonn Festival.

Wine Mile on Friedrichstraße

All the multi-storey car parks were full and there was no space left on the buses. The good weather and the programme, made up exclusively of bands from Bonn, attracted a stream of visitors. The result of the count will show whether there were more than the 350,000 visitors from the previous year. In any event, one thing is clear to Maike Reinhard, managing director of the City Marketing Association: the new concept of stands on the Marktplatz created a wonderful atmosphere.

The Sunday shopping was also well received. “Apart from a few specialist businesses, all the shops on the Bonn Festival streets and squares are open,” said the managing director.

In addition to an exciting programme on two stages, Friedrichstraße was also an attraction for the first time with a Wine Mile. Wineries from the Ahr, Mosel and Rhine offered Federweißer (very young wine) and wines. “Federweißer is the most in demand at the moment,” said Laura Schmitt from the Wallertheim winery in Rheinhessen. She was not entirely satisfied with the visitor numbers. “A few food stands on Friedrichstraße would ensure that people stay a bit longer,” she suggested for next time.

Fresh milk from a vending machine

Exciting things from the Eifel region, such as a fresh milk machine, were on offer on Friedensplatz. “Many young people have never tasted fresh milk,” said Tim Micosatt, an employee of one of the farms supplying the vending machine with milk. “We were also often asked whether there could be permanent vending machines in Bonn,” says Micosatt. The dairy farmers would be open to this.

On Münsterplatz, Klaus and Monika Josefiak were enjoying the sun and listening to the band “B-Five”. “We like the cosiness of Bonn,” the couple said. The large, interconnected pedestrian zone is really unique. Erika and Werner Schuller also have a thing for the city: “We like the historic buildings, the village atmosphere and Sternstraße – not so much the shops as the street itself, which is always unchangingly beautiful.”

The relaxed atmosphere was also felt by the Red Cross emergency services. “No one has needed our help so far,” said paramedic Lukas Quiske.

Original text: Elena Kuss. Translation: kc