City festivals in danger: security requirements are causing celebrations to falter!

City festivals in danger: security requirements are causing celebrations to falter!

The organization of city festivals is increasingly becoming a truly Herculean task. Everywhere in northern Germany, those responsible are faced with the challenge of combining security and a festive atmosphere. That's how it is NDR reports that this year's Pentecost Festival in Elmshorn has been canceled, while the wine festival in Pinneberg can take place despite the high security requirements associated with it.

The safety measures implemented at the wine festival are not exactly low. This time the planning takes twice as long as in the past, around four weeks. Mayor Thomas Voerste says that security cannot be guaranteed 100 percent, but everything is being done to ensure that guests have a safe celebration. This also includes close cooperation between the organizers, the public order office, the police and the fire department.

Complex security concepts

A central component of the security strategies is the need to secure the festival grounds. Mobile barriers, so-called city safes, as well as indutainers that are filled with water are used to make the festival site safe. It is essential that passageways for emergency services are kept clear in order to be able to react quickly in an emergency. The deployment of police and private security services is also part of the security concept, which is regularly adapted to current circumstances, as is the case City Day emphasized.

The feasibility of such security measures is often an immense challenge for smaller organizers. The costs of security are rising, and in Pinneberg the city spent around 50,000 euros on mobile barriers. Nevertheless, this investment is necessary to ensure the protection of citizens from possible attacks. The city's waiver of special usage fees is intended to help event organizers, but there is still a financial burden in these times. Despite all the safety precautions, the total cost of the wine festival is expected to fall by 40,000 euros, which calls into question the economic viability of such festivals.

The importance of city festivals

However, city festivals and events are essential for revitalizing city centers and supporting the regional economy. The preparations for holding festivals are also evidence of the importance of public spaces as places for togetherness and encounters. However, security should never be an end in itself; rather, access to the festivities should be guaranteed. The Association of Cities points out that cities must not be converted into fortresses, even if protecting citizens against terrorist threats is high on the agenda.

As part of these challenges, new orientation frameworks for major events were developed, as shown in a report by Ministry of the Interior emerges. These offer municipalities support in planning, approving, implementing and following up on events. The aim of implementing security concepts is to increase security at events with increased risk potential and to enable adults and children to celebrate carefree.

Overall, it can be said that the balance between happy celebrations and the necessary safety must be carefully weighed up. The developments surrounding the city festivals in northern Germany are a reflection of these necessary adjustments and challenges.