The Hamburger Sommerdom opens on Friday with four new rides. “We are extremely happy that we were able to plan an event like last time in 2019 and that the summer cathedral is taking place without restrictions,” said the head of the cathedral department in the economic authority, Sören Lemke, on Wednesday. The organizers expect more than a million visitors from July 22nd to August 21st on the Heiligengeistfeld – without masks, distance and corona tests.
A particular challenge this year was finding enough staff for the stalls at the folk festival. This can only be managed with the support of the family, said Sascha Belli, chairman of the outpatient trade and the Hamburg Showmen Association. It is therefore fortunate that so many showmen are family businesses. “I have my mother with me again. She’s over 70 and sells the chips here.”
The prices have remained the same compared to the spring dome. Around 240 companies, including almost 50 rides, will offer a mix of action, tradition and nostalgia on the 160,000 square meter area. The four innovations include the “Octopus XXL”, which throws up to 40 passengers through the air with its five arms.
According to the organizers, a completely new type of vehicle is the “Rock
Under the motto “Hamburg Cathedral – back then” there is an exhibition with historical exhibits to discover on 2000 square meters, including an almost 100-year-old Ferris wheel, a children’s carousel from the 1950s and a fair organ from 1892. For the sixth time in a row the “Rainbow Day” with a colorful parade and activities set an example for diversity and tolerance. Every Wednesday there is a family day with reduced prices and fireworks are also planned on two Fridays if it was not too dry in the days before.
There is also an interesting comeback for real cathedral connoisseurs, because the “Airwolf” ride, which was sorted out years ago, has been refurbished by showman Thomas Weber. Only three copies of this carousel were built, only one of them remained in Europe – much to the delight of an apparently large fan base, which is already exchanging views on the Internet forums.
