Diverse Cultural Groups and an Eclectic Schedule - Kid-friendly Events
Festival of Cultures Shines Bright in Ingolstadt
The vibrant city of Ingolstadt, Germany, played host to the annual Festival of Cultures (Fest der Kulturen) on July 25 and 26. This celebration of diversity, where over 140,000 people from around 140 nations reside, showcased a myriad of cultural traditions through performances, art, and community activities.
This year, over 30 local cultural associations participated, marking a new record. The festival programme featured folklore dance and music groups, choirs, live music of various genres, and even a drum group. A highlight was the participation of children in traditional dance performances and the popular rubber duck race on the Danube river, organized by the Lions Club Ingolstadt.
Notable associations like the Ungarischer Kulturverein Petöfi Kör e.V. (Hungarian Cultural Association Petöfi Kör) and the Indisch-Deutscher Verein (Indo-German Association) showcased their cultural heritage through folk dance exhibitions involving children.
In addition, multiple cultural groups designed rubber ducks for the duck race, symbolizing their cultural identity and engagement. The festival venue, Klenzepark, was accessible and well-equipped, with barrier-free toilets and well-arranged stalls.
The children and youth programme included an intercultural sculptures project, "Dressing up trash cans", and "Painting beer table sets" at Rondell Reduit Tilly. Plan International, located near the Danube embankment, invited children to create paper dolls and try a Tippy Tap, a creative hand washing station, at the festival.
The association "Ingolstadt is colorful" made its debut at the festival, offering colorful crafting fun at Rondell Reduit Tilly. At 30 stands, 25 countries were represented, and the diverse music and dance programme was curated by the participating associations.
The complete programme for the Festival of Cultures can be found at www.kulturamt-ingolstadt.de/festderkulturen.de. This year, several associations made their debut, including the Indian Nomads in Ingolstadt, the Indo-German Association Ingolstadt, Filipino-German Help for Street Children, the Albanian-Kosovar-German Association Ingolstadt, the German-Arabic-Islamic Organization (Zaytounah Mosque), and the Integration and Culture Club Ingolstadt (ICCI).
Members of the participating associations performed dressed in their traditional attire, with the Qipao Show presenting traditional Chinese clothing as the centerpiece. A Kung Fu performance took place on the Danube stage. The Migration Council also had a stand at the festival, offering actions for children of different ages directly at the entrance of the Bavarian Army Museum under the motto "Living in Diversity".
A human tower was built before the stage, a successful debut last year. The "Aplec del Cargol" event, a traditional Catalan gathering celebrating snails, was also part of the festival as part of the "Snail Tour" initiative. This event, usually held annually in Lleida, Spain, will also take place in Ingolstadt this year.
The Festival of Cultures in Ingolstadt continues to be a key annual event that highlights cultural plurality through various ethnic associations, performances, and communal celebrations. It is a testament to the city's commitment to diversity and its celebration of the rich cultural tapestry that makes Ingolstadt such a vibrant and welcoming city.
- The festival's cultural programme, ranging from traditional dance performances to live music of diverse genres, was curated by the participating associations, reflecting the city's spirit of diversity-and-inclusion.
- aside from the rubber duck race, multiple cultural groups showcased their identity through unique designs on the rubber ducks for the race, a creative representation of fashion-and-beauty from various nations.
- Several local businesses, such as Plan International and the association "Ingolstadt is colorful", offered lifestyle activities for children and families, like creating paper dolls and participating in colorful crafting fun.
- The festival's diverse food-and-drink stalls offered a chance for visitors to taste dishes from various cultures, enhancing the overall lifestyle experience and celebrating the city's cultural diversity. Moreover, home-and-garden associations showcased their unique handicrafts, further contributing to the celebratory atmosphere.
