Ipfmess 2025: Showmen fight for tradition and future!

Ipfmess 2025: Showmen fight for tradition and future!

The anticipation for Ipfmess in Bopfingen is great: As one of the top ten addresses in Baden-Württemberg, this folk festival attracts both locals and visitors from further away. Mark Roschmann, Chairman of the Showmen Association Stuttgart and the fourth Generation of Schaustlers, is represented with his stand where delicious corn on the coins are offered. This tradition, which originated in 1812, has experienced some challenges in recent years.

A sought -after place on the Ipfmess is not easy to get. The placement of space takes place by the local council in Bopfingen, and in order to get a stand, the showmen must apply in the "Comet" industry sheet. The assignment of the places is responsible for the market master, which is the first hurdle for many showmen.

challenges of the showman industry

The challenges are diverse. Many showmen are mobile craft businesses that attach great importance to apprenticeships. But the industry has difficulty finding personnel who is willing to travel. Rising costs for equipment and food make pricing on the festivals more difficult. In addition, the existence of many showmen is in danger, especially according to the effects of corona pandemic. According to information from Volksfeste-ABC , the operating costs in the industry have increased-the minimum wages have increased by 36 %, while food has become 35 % more expensive.

Although the showmen do not receive an entry fee, they pay stand money that have remained stable in the region. These are welcome in the municipal households - approximately 2.80 euros per visitor flow directly into the coffers of the municipalities every year. Overall, sales at folk festival places in Germany is around 6.51 billion euros.

The role of the folk festivals in society

folk festivals like the Ipfmess play a central role in social life. According to the industry, they are fascinated by around 198.4 million visitors annually, which spend an average of EUR 32.80 per day. They not only offer a varied leisure offer, but also strengthen the sense of community and the cultural identity of the regions. Projects that focus on sustainability give the whole an additional thrust - over 30 % of the folk festivals rely on green electricity to operate in resources.

The IPFMESS 2025 will offer a highlight with the most impressive ride, the "Predator", which is operated by the Kaiser family. This shows that despite all the challenges, the tradition of folk festivals is kept alive. Mark Roschmann himself spent large parts of his childhood on the fairground and takes these memories into the next generation. "Folk festivals work better when the population is behind them," he says. With this attitude and support of the community, Ipfmess could continue to remain an integral part of the Baden-Württemberg festival culture in the future.

Further information on the showman industry and your current challenges can be found on the website of dsbev.de .