Cologne Lights
The Kölner Lichter is a music and fireworks event that has been taking place in Cologne every summer since 2001 , similar to the Rhine in Flames . It is the largest music-synchronized fireworks display in Europe .
description
The organizer is the Leverkusen-based Werner Nolden GmbH . The idea for fireworks on the Rhine dates back to 1817. On August 12, 1817, the Kölnische Zeitung reported on the illumination of Cologne: “The festival began with well-calculated tasteful fireworks that were burned down on a ship in the middle of the Rhine. "
The supporting program, which begins in the open air in the afternoon and offers free admission, offers music of various styles on several stages. The eponymous highlight is formed by several large fireworks that are burned down along the Rhine. They are distributed from the Rodenkirchener Brücke to the Mülheimer Brücke . Over 60 passenger ships drive past the fireworks in a convoy.
The main fireworks will be burned down by the company WECO Pyrotechnische Fabrik GmbH on two large pontoon ships . The fireworks ship (Colombia I + II) is 192 m long. After the Rhine has been closed to cargo ships, it travels to the area between the Zoobrücke and Hohenzollernbrücke . The entire section of the Rhine is filled with music from both banks and the passenger ships. The ship stops in the middle of the Rhine, at 11:30 p.m. the big, half-hour fireworks display begins. The special feature is the synchronicity with the music, rhythm and mood. The fireworks music is also broadcast by the local radio station Radio Cologne . Since 2005, the WDR has broadcast the event live on television from 8:15 p.m. to midnight .
In 2016, a total of 4.7 tons of fireworks were shot into the air for the main fireworks display. Another 1.3 tons for smaller accompanying fireworks. The costs in 2009 amounted to around 1.2 million euros. According to the organizer, the pure costs of the fireworks should only make up a fraction of the costs.
The Cologne Lights take place annually in July. The most recent event was on July 13, 2019 and took place under the motto "Beyond Borders! Offenbach & Friends". In 2020, the Cologne lights were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic . On the planned date, July 18, 2020, there is a ban on major events. Not all ships would be available on a possible catch-up date in September 2020.
City eight
Since 2005, in the run-up to the fireworks, the Cologne RV 1877 has held the rowing regatta Cologne City Eight , which has existed since 1909, from 9:15 p.m. All rowing clubs from Cologne and neighboring cities take part, including rowers from the Cologne RG 1891 and the RTK Germania Cologne . Thanks to the over 500,000 spectators on the Rhine and the television broadcast with around 1.5 million viewers, the rowing regatta reaches a uniquely high audience spectrum.
Mottos
2001 | Cologne Lights (July 2001)
2002 | Cologne Lights (July 13, 2002)
2003 | Cologne Lights (July 12, 2003)
2004 | Cologne Lights (July 10, 2004)
2005 | Radioday moderated by Ralph Günther (July 17, 2005)
2006 | Cologne goes Musical (July 29, 2006)
2007 | Colonia - From Urbe Condita (July 14, 2007)
2008 | Time travel (July 12, 2008)
2009 | Cinema Colonia (July 11, 2009)
2010 | Best of Kölner Lichter (July 17, 2010)
2011 | 11 Years of Cologne Lights - A Cologne Jubilee (July 9, 2011)
2012 | Friendships (July 14, 2012)
2013 | Dream catcher (July 13, 2013)
2014 | Cologne lights danceable! - the wild 70s (July 19, 2014)
2015 | Kölner Lichter- totally in love (July 11th 2015)
2016 | Contrasts - The fireworker opens the tool box (July 16, 2016)
2017 | The Cologne Experiment (July 23, 2017)
2018 | Paintings - the fire painters of Cologne (July 21, 2018)
2019 | Across borders! Offenbach & Friends (July 13, 2019)
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Kölnische Zeitung No. 128 of August 12, 1817, from leafed through in old newspapers , Cologne 1698–1833, Greven Verlag Cologne, 1974
- ↑ Clemens Schminke: Kölner Lichter 2016 4.7 tons of fireworks on two ships . July 15, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
- ↑ Cologne Lights: 20,000 rockets, one million visitors . July 1, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
- ↑ A sad summer? Major events around Cologne canceled. WDR, April 16, 2020, accessed on May 13, 2020 .
- ↑ Kölner Lichter: New date not possible. WDR, May 12, 2020, accessed on May 13, 2020 .