- Under the scorching temperatures, the Gäuboden Festival attracts a staggering 1.25 million attendees.
The Gäubodenvolksfest in Straubing sees approximately 1.25 million attendees, slightly less than previous years. The organizers, led by Daniel Winklmaier, the operations manager, attribute this decrease mainly to the scorching heat, with temperatures reaching up to 30°C on eight out of the eleven festival days.
The newly introduced free drinking water stations were appreciated. For the first time, a misting system was installed at the entrance of the historical part of the festival grounds, which saw continuous use.
Approximately 700,000 liters of festival beer
This year, around 700,000 liters of festival beer were dispensed, a slight decrease from the 740,000 liters served last year. About 32 bulls and 40,000 chickens (Gickerl) were consumed. Cold dishes were particularly preferred, noted Winklmaier. The use of cannabis posed minimal issues, with only five infractions reported, three on the festival grounds and two in nearby play areas, according to the police.
In general, the police provided a mostly favorable assessment. Apart from the five cannabis infractions, 14 cases of physical harm were logged, compared to 40 in 2022 and 23 in the previous year, mentioned Straubing's police chief Josef Eckl. However, incidents of violence against officers remain a concern, with eight occurrences this year, following a decrease from 14 in 2022 to six in 2023.
Officers from across Bavaria on duty
As in past years, the Straubing police were bolstered by numerous officers from across Bavaria, eager to participate, said Eckl, referencing a Munich officer planning to serve three days at the Gäubodenvolksfest before retiring.
The Gäubodenvolksfest ranks as the second-largest Bavarian folk festival after Munich's Oktoberfest, bringing in 1.25 million visitors, which is 25 times the city's population.
The organizers also considered implementing measures to reduce waste, mentioning the inclusion of recycling stations as an other initiative. Including these, there were several other strategies implemented to enhance the festival experience.
Moreover, the organizing team made an effort to include diverse acts, ensuring that the lineup catered to various preferences of the attendees, including different music genres.
