Visitors at Egapark Erfurt expressing dissatisfaction
At Egapark Erfurt, the Japanese Garden Festival drew crowds eager to experience tea ceremonies, music, and dance on Sunday, May 11th. Good weather and lively atmosphere marked the event's start, but the size of the crowd caused issues.
Despite the park being adorned with flowers and blossoms, visitor frustration grew. The throngs clogged spaces, causing some to change their minds upon spotting the crowd outside the teahouse window. A Thuringia24 reporter confirmed this.
A rumor circulated: registration was necessary for participation, yet no such information was found on the Egapark Erfurt website. The truth behind this remains unclear.
Registration, the Stadtwerke Erfurt clarified, takes place on-site only. "We offer a chance to visitors who decide spur-of-the-moment or those who haven't checked the internet beforehand," a spokeswoman explained to Thuringia24. Alternatively, spectators could watch from outside, creating an atmosphere worth experiencing.
One Erfurt resident was taken aback by the sight. One might question if the teahouse's capacity merited such a large gathering. Alternative arrangements could be considered, such as hosting the event on a spacious park stage. However, the Stadtwerke Erfurt spokeswoman reiterated, a genuine Japanese tea ceremony was unfeasible on a stage, preserving the atmosphere and traditional rituals' authenticity being paramount.
Accommodating the swelling crowd proved challenging. Some may have missed out on the tea ceremony. However, the varied program offered alternatives, including martial arts demonstrations, drum shows, traditional dances, music performances, language courses, origami, and sushi-eating sessions.
The city works were generally content with the event, with visitor numbers surpassing last year's and artists receiving positive feedback. However, the congested wait for the tea ceremony may have left some disappointed, prompting a suggestion for earlier arrivals or diversified program engagement next year.
Home-and-garden decorations, such as the adornments in the Japanese Garden, added to the festival's enchanting atmosphere. Despite the crowding issues, the variety of activities, ranging from martial arts demonstrations to sushi-eating sessions, catered to diverse lifestyle preferences.
