After two years, the Heinerfest in Darmstadt will be celebrated again as usual.

Although the corona incidence has jumped to 850 due to the Schlossgrabenfest, which has just ended, and more corona patients are being treated in the hospitals again, no conditions are planned.

Mayor Jochen Partsch (Die Grünen) discussed the current situation with the Corona crisis team.

The doctors at the clinic in particular have reportedly warned against being too light.

Nevertheless, there will be no restrictions for the Heinerfest.

"We celebrate against the background of the current legal situation," says Partsch.

In contrast to the Schlossgrabenfest, the Heinerfest is much more extensive.

“There is enough space and it is everyone's responsibility how they behave.

We can take responsibility for this festival.”

The 72nd Heinerfest will be celebrated from June 30th to July 4th in the city center around the castle and the state museum.

The program is extensive and offers events for every taste.

Some groups from Darmstadt's 16 partner cities are also involved.

They are intended to underline the international solidarity.

This year's Heinerfest is characterized by diversity, which is underscored by the program booklet in rainbow colors as well as the motto "Everyone come".

200 showmen from all over Germany travel to set up their rides and stands, as Festival President Wolfgang Koehler said.

"Celebrate everything that makes Darmstadt special"

In February, when it was still uncertain how the pandemic would continue, it was decided to definitely celebrate the Heinerfest after a two-year break.

The organization was not easy.

Some of the former comrades-in-arms from the Darmstadt Heiner home club no longer took part.

Many showmen hesitated at first because they lacked staff after the pandemic.

Added to this are the high energy costs.

Of course, the consideration of whether a folk festival should be celebrated at all in view of the war in the Ukraine also played a role, especially since around 1,600 people from the Ukraine have now found accommodation in Darmstadt.

Especially mothers with children, some of whom are traumatized by the war.

In this context, Koehler recalls the origin of the Heiner Festival, which was launched 70 years ago in the ruins of a bombed-out city with the aim of looking to the future and not forgetting to celebrate and unite despite all the misery.

"There is no other festival with this tradition in Germany," says Mayor Partsch.

However, the highlight of the Heiner Festival, the fireworks, will not be there this year.

Koehler and the mayor quickly agreed on this with everyone involved, even if that would probably result in significant losses for the showmen.

The day with the fireworks was usually the busiest in the past.

Instead, on Heinerfest Monday at 10:30 p.m., the lights on the fairground should be dimmed, the music should be silent, and the bells of the Darmstadt churches should ring for ten minutes.

The brief period of silence and pause is intended as solidarity with Ukraine.

Anyone who comes to the festival grounds for this occasion is a sign of this solidarity. 

"Otherwise we celebrate Darmstadt residents and everything that makes Darmstadt special," says Koehler.

The Festival President sees further opportunities for Darmstadt's biggest festival in the future.

He hopes that the castle courtyards will be available again at some point.

The Darmstadt Palace is more than just a place of teaching and research for the Technical University.

"The citizens shouldn't miss out here either." Up to half a million visitors from the entire region are expected.

As with every festival, this year there will again be the "confessed Heiner".

It is the former Lord Mayor Peter Benz.

The program can be read at www.darmstaedterheinerfest.de.