Festivals in danger: Hanau and Gelnhausen are fighting for survival!

Festivals in danger: Hanau and Gelnhausen are fighting for survival!

Things are getting serious in the Hanau region: two popular festivals are about to end. The “Seeliebe” festival and the “Homerun Open-Air” in Gelnhausen may have to be stopped due to a lack of approval from the city of Hanau. BRA Event GmbH, organizer of both events, is disappointed with the situation and the unclear legal situation.

The “Seeliebe” festival, which has been taking place annually in Hanau since 2015 and features big names from the DJ scene, is particularly affected. In recent years, the city of Hanau has only issued individual permits for the events, which has made planning security extremely difficult. The organizers therefore planned to apply for permanent public law approval to secure the future of the festival. These plans were presented to the city in August 2024. But so far the approval has not been granted, which annoys both the organizers and the loyal festival visitors.

Criticism of the city of Hanau

Nevertheless, there was positive feedback from the city: Hanau city councilor Isabelle Hemsley (CDU) praised the popularity of the “Seeliebe” festival and promised support. Managing director Bob Riemer of BRA Events emphasizes that the team has always worked transparently with the city and met all the necessary requirements. But moving the festival at short notice is out of the question, which makes it even more difficult for the organizers to find a solution.

According to Riemer, the reasons for the threatened cancellation of the festival are complex. In addition to the increased costs, there is also a loss of synergies that are crucial for booking, personnel planning as well as technology and security. “We warn that the eastern Rhine-Main metropolitan region will become culturally poorer if such events do not take place,” said the organizer.

Permits – a complicated topic

What many people don't know: Approvals for events are a complex issue in Germany and vary depending on the federal state and municipality. In principle, organizers must obtain permission from the responsible authority if their event is public or could have an adverse effect on the public, for example through noise. In addition, aspects such as security concepts and special regulations play a crucial role, especially at major events. Those responsible must ensure that everything is legally secured and all requirements are adhered to, which is often a challenge, especially at outdoor events.

A look at the “Seeliebe” festival website shows that despite the difficulties, the organizers continue to provide information and hope that the festival does not become a relic of the past. Those interested can read more details on the official website: www.seeliebe-hanau.de.

It remains to be seen how the city of Hanau will react to the critical situation and whether there will be a rescue for the “Seeliebe” festival and the “Homerun Open-Air”. The fans are hoping for a positive turnaround, because cultural events are the pulse of the city and its surrounding area.