Rain, hail, sun and very hot. These are the catchphrases from last weekend at the Medieval Festival in Büdingen.
Friday, July 7, 2017 – construction day
The medieval festival in Büdinger’s old town began on Friday with the setting up of the two tents. But before we could get started we first had to wait in the shade for our spot to be cleared of parked cars. The organizers approved the construction from 1:00 p.m. Parking for visitors but from the city until 3:00 p.m. This is what we call suboptimal communication. But it was bearable in the shade and you could watch others doing the strenuous construction work.
But at some point we had to sweat until we couldn’t anymore. The tents were slowly set up and equipped with tables, benches and my basketry. The sweat was still pouring down, even if you tried to move in slow motion.
At some point we were finished building and setting up. Closing the hatches and heading home to the cool was the only thought. On the way home the sky became darker and darker, with lightning and thunder and rain and hail en masse. On the one hand, we were happy not to have to take part on site, but also those in Büdingen who were still busy with the construction were thinking: Hopefully nothing happens.
Saturday, July 8, 2017 – First market day
We were back in Büdingen early. After what we had seen on Facebook, we were a bit nervous as to whether the tents had survived the previous evening’s storm unscathed or whether the baskets had floated away. But everything was fine. It was easier for us to concentrate on preparing for the market. The official market time was from 1 p.m. to midnight. That easily meant 13 hours on the Schloßplatz starting at a chilly 29° Celsius and ending the market at 25°. Views that, just because of this fact, made beads of sweat appear on your forehead and elsewhere.
I then started practicing my craft and braiding. First three oval bases. Since this was the third market in a row, I was missing shopping baskets. So first soak the peeled willows. We brought a large mortar bucket with us and somehow choked the willows in there and held them under water with tension straps and wooden wedges. Place a cloth over it to cover the plastic bucket and wait two hours. I already had unpeeled willows in the water at home.
The later the day, the warmer it became. Every hour on the hour there was music and entertainment on the castle square. So we were well provided with entertainment and happy to have to move as little as possible. In the evening the first basket was finished except for the handle. But so did I, so that was the end of the day for today. At some point, the temperatures just make you lose your head. All that was left to do was turn on the ambient lighting and shout a greeting to the few visitors who came by. Then we finally got off work and knowing we had a short night ahead of us, we went home.
Sunday, July 9, 2017 – Second market day
Going back to the market on the Schloßplatz at 10 a.m. with far too little sleep was quite an effort for older people like us. The market should run until 7 p.m. and the daytime temperatures should be higher than the day before. And so it was.
It doesn’t help at all. I have to demonstrate my craft and weave baskets. Said, done, sweated. The breaks were pleasant when there were willow trees in the water and I had to wait. Otherwise the day went like Saturday:
Visitors – Questions – Answers – Lichens.
Shortly after 6 p.m. we became impatient. Only an hour left until the end of the market and every 60 seconds I look at the clock and wish that time would pass faster. Everything was dismantled and packed up in peace and quiet. And the way home was also calm. At home, all I have to do is park the trailer, leave everything as it is, get out of my clothes and enjoy a mead for me and an after-work beer for Ralf on the cool terrace.
And with that, the 2017 Medieval Festival in Büdingen is already history. Our thoughts are already turning to Himbach for the next weekend, where the next market is also waiting for us in medieval times.
Conclusion Büdingen 2017
- Give the market patron a permanent entry ticket, because a dealer may also have to leave the area from time to time and will therefore not have to have any discussions at the checkout if he wants to go back to the old town.
- Coordinate set-up time and use of the parking spaces so that you can actually set up without long waiting times.
- There were significantly fewer stands. Particularly striking at Schloßplatz and the connection between market and castle square – Schloßgasse – old town. The gaps were very noticeable and certainly cost many visitors and therefore potential customers.
- The Schloßplatz is still my preferred choice. There is no crowd and there is plenty of space; especially for assembly and dismantling.
- I would like to be there again in 2019
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