KIRMES & Park REVUE (English) Special Ikarus (Vorschau)

“Golden Cars” from Meyer were chosen as Kät
novelties. (Incidentally, the dodgem track from
Hickmann, which has been among the regular
Kät attractions for decades, had a contract for
the Schützenfest in Hannover, which began on
the second Kät weekend.) Other attractions
presented were the Musik Express (Baier),
“Frisbee” (Zinnecker), “Magic” (Müller-Volklandt),
“Breakdance” (Pilz), “Geistervilla” (Zinnecker),
“Sound Machine” (Welte), “Extrem”
Propeller (Boos), “Crazy Outback” (Hofmann-
Jehn), chain ride (Krause), die “Euro Rutsche”
(Kutschenbauer-Roden), and a simulator. Moreover,
children could enjoy the “Super-8-Truck”
from Katzschmann family, Illgen‘s “Bimmelbahn”,
Katzschmann’s kiddie ride, the “Dschungel
Express” (Walther), Fieseler‘s “Kinder Taxi”,
the Jet Ride from Tschou and the pony ride from
Glaß. The selection of attractions was rounded
off by a varied mixture of concession stalls of all
kinds. Although the ride contingent offered a lot
of fairground fun, visitors missed a large first
class attraction this year.
Moreover, it was noticeable that there were an
unusually large number of Dutch showman
operations. Fairground director Christian Eberhardt
commented on the selection criteria and
placement of the rides as follows: “It was pure
coincidence that so many Dutch showmen were
represented at the Annaberg Kät. Initially, it was
not particularly noticeable to us that many of these
operations belonged to Dutch owners or operators.
In the end, this was not important though as
all agreements and contracts were fully met and
realized. We cannot say for sure whether or not
the Kät was on their tour schedule, although we
know that the “Euro Coaster” and the River-Rafting-Bahn
were originally to appear in Bayreuth.
Due to the terraced fairground, the selection and
placement of the attractions not only depends
on their attractiveness and uniqueness, but
more importantly on their ground measurements
and the logistics issues involved in their build up
and dismantling.”
Despite the efficient
placement of the
novelties and the appealing
layout of the
fairground, a large
coaster or looping
track, a higher Ferris
Wheel, and a giant
swing were sadly
missed by many a
visitor. In addition to
the annually repeated
highlights, showmen
and visitors were
offered a special
highlight from Monday
to Wednesday,
namely, scenes for a crime-thriller being shot at
the Kät for the first time. The private television
station, “Constantin Television GmbH München”
produced scenes for the TV series “Die
Draufgänger” with leading actors Dominik Boeer
and Jörg Schüttauf for three days. In these
scenes they fought criminals and recklessly endangered
people, right in this fairground setting.
The scenes were shot mainly in the mornings,
among other sets on rides, inside and outside
the beer tent, and on the adjoining sports field.
To capture the special Kät flair, a number of
shootings were also made during opening
hours.
Even though it is indisputable that the Annaberg
Kät is the largest Volksfest in the Erzgebirge,
advertising for the event urgently requires
intensification and to be more widely dispersed.
Only a few posters in the direct vicinity and in the
town, as well as a banner spanning the B 95 federal
highway called attention to the event. It is
preposterous that there was not a single poster
to be seen in the surrounding region and larger
neighbouring cities, such as Zwickau and
Chemnitz.
Additionally, the fairground
was poorly marked for non locals
arriving by car from the direction
of Aue. It is also hard to
fathom that no politicians from
the state government showed
up at the fairground for the
opening or during the Kät.
Nonetheless, the Annaberg
Kät was well worthwhile seeing,
but a carefully prepared
“pick-me-up” would not harm
the largest Volksfest in the
Erzgebirge.
■
The “Columbia-Rad” at the
Kät in Annaberg
“Euro-Coaster” and “River
Rafting” in Annaberg
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