Report

Bergfest 2021: "A Week of mental blackout"

From 15 to 18 July 2021, the traditional Bergfest took place at TU Ilmenau. For over 50 years, the half of the completed standard period of study is celebrated. But not only the students of the bergfest matriculation also all other students, employees of the university as well as the inhabitants of the city expect every year a week with a full program - from the barrel tappin to the Bierathlon to open air concerts.

Bergfest e.V.

The Bergfest has been organized by Bergfest e.V. since 2005. Preparations for the Bergfest week begin nine months in advance with a core team of about 20 students. During the festival week more than 100 volunteers are also on site in order to be able to manage the events in the best possible way. Cooperations with the FEM – Forschungsgemeinschaft elektronische Medien e.V. and other associations of the TU Ilmenau contribute to a unique event, which contributes to the special campus atmosphere of the university.

While the Bergfest 2020 had to be cancelled due to the corona pandemic, this year at least a limited program could take place but in compliance with various corona protection measures. For example, tickets for the various events were sold in advance to limit the number of visitors. All events were held outdoors.

The festival started on thursday evening with the Open Air Cinema, presented by the Hochschulfilmclub e.V.. In front of the fenced-off mountain festival stage, visitors could place their brought blankets and camping chairs at a distance and enjoy the film "TENET" under the open sky.

On Friday the Bergfest was then traditionally opened with the tapping of the barrel. This time the honor was held by Prof. Stefan Sinzinger, Vice President for Research and Young Scientists. Accompanied by Frühschoppenphilharmoniker, the brass band of TU Ilmenau, before seven brave drivers got ready in the afternoon for the most racy event of the Bergfest - the soapbox race. There are no limits to creativity when it comes to building soapboxes. And so this time in keeping with the motto "A Week of mental blackout", there were two Batmobiles and a Baywatch memory vehicle. The opponents were a beer can, a beer bottle, a Erstiwochen-mobile and a Mario Kart. A light barrier at the end of the track measured the speed of the soapboxes on the track between the audimax and the mensa. With 16.43 seconds the Batmobile of Alexander Dörr and his team won.

With the concert Bergfest Live! ft. Alex Mofa Gang ended the second day of the Bergefest. Those who could still get a ticket for the concert got to enjoy three ska bands: Ska Field, Oider and Alex Mofa Gang.

Saturday was all about the Ehrenbergwiesn. During the day the visitors could strengthen themselves at the Weißwurst breakfast, in the evening the party continued at the Schlagerparty (Apres Wiesn) ft. DJ Fett&Faul.

Relaxation was on the agenda on Sunday: at Wies`n`Chill all ticket holders could make themselves comfortable on deck chairs with ice-cold drinks and beats from the Ilmenau DJs. The Bergfest 2021 ended with cabaret artist Patrick Salem and his program "Ekstase".

The ever-popular Bierathlon was not on the program of the four days due to corona. But there is an alternative: On July 24 and 25 the self-selected teams can climb the Kickelhahn, thus avoiding larger crowds at the start and finish. A reception committee of the Bergfest e.V. will be waiting at the top of the mountain. In addition to the fun, the kilometres run by all participants also serve a good purpose: these will be counted twice on both days for the inova charity run.

 

Impressions of the barrel tapping and soapbox race 2021