St. Wendel disputes organization of Oktoberfest festival

A dispute has emerged in St. Wendel regarding the organization of the Oktoberfest during the Wendelskirmes festival. The FC Blau-Weiß St. Wendel football club has publicly criticized the city administration following a breakdown in planning for the 2026 event.

The conflict centers on a proposed fourth day of festivities. The football club, which relies on festival revenue, had partnered with Alm Events to increase economic efficiency and extend the event to four days. The club claims Mayor Peter Klär had verbally approved these plans, but the regulatory office later blocked the additional day, citing noise complaints from residents and traditional three-day limits.

In response to the shift in organization, the city has appointed the music pub operator ‘Spinnrad’ as the new organizer for the festival tent operations. The city clarified that this selection was not made through a formal public tender or competitive bidding process. Instead, the administration cited Section 19 of the Saarland Municipal Self-Government Act (KSVG), which governs the rights and obligations of residents to use public facilities. The city maintains that the decision is a matter of administrative admission to a public municipal facility rather than a traditional contract award.