Herne (dpa / lnw) - After a two-year break due to the pandemic, the Cranger fair started in Herne on Thursday as the largest folk festival in North Rhine-Westphalia. In the afternoon, the carousels turned again on the festival grounds on the Rhine-Herne Canal, as a spokesman said on the first of eleven days of the fair. "The children's eyes shine." Shortly before the start of the hype, visitors were invited to the historic "horse market" at a nearby horse farm. Mayor Frank Dudda (SPD) opened the show program with western riding or a record jump.
The official opening of the event is not planned until Friday. In addition, Dudda will ceremoniously tap the barrel in the large marquee - accompanied by Bundestag President Bärbel Bas. Pop singer Howard Carpendale is also part of the party.
Around four million visitors are expected to attend one of the largest folk festivals in Germany. A good 500 showmen take part. The program also includes - on Saturday - a traditional parade with around 4000 participants. The city had canceled the folk festival in 2021 and 2020 due to the corona pandemic.
