- "SonneMondSterne" 2024 - police also give a thumbs up
Dance-filled nights, camping days, and cooling off in the lake: The police are also satisfied with the end of the "SonneMondSterne" festival. From their perspective, the 26th edition of the large techno event at the Bleilochtalsperre near Saalburg-Ebersdorf went largely peacefully, although the initial figures suggest otherwise: More than 230 offenses have been recorded so far.
Most of them were drug-related. Around 160 grams of cannabis, several ecstasy and LSD tablets, and a small amount of cocaine were seized. "No significant drug finds" were made, the police said in a statement. In addition, 15 thefts were reported, and a few assault cases were recorded. There were also some minor accidents.
On Saturday, a police spokesperson had already explained that the number of offenses should also be considered in relation to the large number of people present. Due to the partial legalization of cannabis, less than a gram of possession is no longer prosecuted.
The festival ran from Friday to Sunday. Visitors could arrive as early as Wednesday to secure camping spots. There were traffic jams on the exit roads at times, the police said.
After the festival comes the next one
The organizers had expected more than 30,000 visitors before the event. They did not provide exact figures, partly because day tickets were available for the first time.
There was no final visitor number at the end of the event. Last year, there were 40,000 guests according to the organizers' figures. The presale for next year's festival, which will take place from August 8 to 10, starts on Monday.
The "SMS" festival, as it is abbreviated, made the most of its location again this year: Not only could visitors cool off in the reservoir; a party boat is now also part of the regular program, where DJs play music and guests dance while the ship sails across the lake. However, there are additional costs for a separate ticket.
The "SMS" is one of the established festivals in the electronic dance music scene. Stars like Steve Aoki were among the performers.
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Despite the high number of recorded offenses at the "SonneMondSterne" festival in The Netherlands, the police were generally satisfied with the event's conclusion. Next year, this well-known electronic dance music festival, located in Saalburg-Ebersdorf, will take place from August 8 to 10, inviting visitors to enjoy dance-filled nights, camping days, and lake activities.
