Chemnitz (dpa/sn) - Fire shows, artistry and live music: At the start of the hat festival, Chemnitz city center was transformed into an open-air stage for street art on Friday. According to the organizers, 150 artists from nine countries will delight visitors with their performances on several stages by Sunday. These include clowning, juggling, acrobatics and stilt walking. In addition, handicrafts and design are offered at a "market of beautiful things" as well as various street food.
The Berlin aerial artist Anna Ehrenreich, who shows tricks on the trapeze, is also part of the party, as is the duo Charisma, which started the show "FeuerWer?" turns a historic fire truck into a stage. In addition, the dance duo "Les Amants du Ciel" from France want to show acrobatics at dizzy heights on the facade of the town hall. Beyond the stages, visitors can also look forward to walking acts such as Onil the dragon and the "Las Fuegas" fire show.
The hat festival is celebrating its 5th anniversary this year. According to the C³ Chemnitz Event Center GmbH, it attracts more than 50,000 visitors to the city center every year. The name of the festival is borrowed from the saying "to take off one's hat to someone"; the hat should stand as a sign of appreciation and recognition for the respective counterpart. At the same time, visitors of the festival are invited to wear a hat. Admission is free.
