Sunny weather lures thousands to Hessentag festival in Fulda

Sunny weather drew thousands to Fulda, Germany, for the opening weekend of the Hessentag state festival. After a rainy start on Friday, clear skies on Saturday brought out large crowds and good spirits, according to a city spokesperson. Organizers are confident that visitor numbers will continue to rise throughout the festival, which runs until June 21. The event in Fulda has already seen significant attendance, with around 1,400 people present for the official opening ceremony. The musical gala held at the Domplatz was also a success, selling out with approximately 7,000 attendees. A breakdance competition and an AI experience world are expected to be particularly popular attractions, especially among younger visitors. The highlight for Saturday evening was a sold-out concert by German singer Roland Kaiser. In total, attendees can choose from 1,200 free events during the Hessentag. The festival has not been without dissent; two separate protest events occurred concurrently. A "Hessentag without military" vigil saw a low three-digit number of participants, while a "Career counseling for peace" event attracted a low double-digit number of people, according to police. Both protests proceeded peacefully.