Schlossgartenfest 2002: What a comeback

More than 6000 guests celebrated through the summer night

A fine midsummer weekend: after a two-year break, over 6,000 guests enjoyed themselves on Saturday in perfect weather conditions at the 66th Schlossgartenfest. There was dancing, laughing, eating and drinking, much to the delight of FAU President Joachim Hornegger, who began his welcome with the words “What a comeback!”

In addition to many prominent guests – from Minister of the Interior Joachim Herrmann and Minister of the Environment Thorsten Glauber to representatives of city and state politics and Siemens CEO Roland Busch – a particularly large number of students also joined in the celebrations this year, significantly more than at previous events.

One of the highlights of the evening was the laser show around the garden fountain: For about 20 minutes, the color laser beams flashed through the night to classical and pop music. For the first time, the laser show replaced the fireworks from previous events – partly to address environmental concerns and relieve patients in the clinics surrounding Schlossgarten. The show received enthusiastic applause – which must have pleased lighting artist Florian Popp all the more, as the rehearsal on Friday evening had to be canceled due to heavy rain and could only be carried out during the night into the early hours of the morning.

Guests danced to the music of the Oldies Big Band, the Chicolores, the MFL Big Band, picobello dance orchestra and Román Gabla y sus Timberos. In the lounge area, Thomas Fink & Friends and Lietzmann 4 Jazz entertained guests.

For those who wondered about the three silent men on stilts in black suits and with broad shoulders: they were not hired as extra security for members of the Bavarian state government, but merely as photo motifs for the visitors.