Last year, the fair celebrated it’s 650th anniversary. This year, it will once again offer racy rides and popular family attractions. Seven of the rides are new to the fair this year. "Our goal is to be able to offer visitors a particularly attractive fair in the first year after the anniversary celebration," said fair director Harald Borchert on Tuesday.

Goldmine Tower: The main attraction amongst the new rides is the Goldmine Tower. The free-fall tower takes guests 80 meters high before allowing them to drop again at a speed of up to 140 kilometers per hour. Before the fall, a special surprise awaits the guests: At the highest point, the seats are tilted slightly forward, and the gondola rotates 360 degrees. The Goldmine Tower can be found at only a few German fairgrounds this season.

Apollo 13: The trip with Apollo 13 is also breathtaking. Entirely geared to space, it takes passengers 55 meters high at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. Depending on the rotation of the basket, there can be an acceleration of 0 G (weightlessness in space) to 5 G (as in a rocket launch).

Mr. Gravity: At Mr. Gravity, daredevils are rotated at up to 100 kilometers per hour on a disc in a circular motion. In addition, the disc raises up to an angle of 90 degrees and reaches a height of up to 18 meters. Fast changes of direction and forces up to 5 G provide for a special thrill.

Kaleidoscope: Brand new is the Kaleidoscope ride which involves running, and it only hit the market this spring. Guests can expect a magical world of colors and shapes behind an exciting backdrop. Equipped with spectral glasses, they embark on an 80-meter-long obstacle course through a hot and cold room equipped with modern laser technology and LED effects. A rotating barrel gives the feeling that you are in the middle of a kaleidoscope.

Nostalgic offers: For the first time, two attractions from the historical fairgrounds of the anniversary year are available: the roller coaster "Fahrt in Paradies" and the nostalgic horse carousel "Schleifer's Carouselle".

Ghost Villa: Also new at the fair is the ghost train "Ghost Villa", which promises scary fun for the whole family with living ghosts, electronically animated mummies and real fire effects.

The fairgrounds covers 80,000 square meters, and there are around 500 different vendors and rides on the premises. On the main grounds, there are 23 rides, 13 rides for children, and much more, including well-known rides such as “The Flyer of Bonn”, “Hawaii Swing” and the Europe giant ferris wheel. How many visitors are expected this year? Borchert: "With the weather forecast, one can assume that more than one million people will come again."

Beer prices: On the main grounds, a 0.25 liter of Kölsch beer will cost 2.50 euros. A liter of beer in the Bayern tent will set you back 10.30 euros.

Start of the fair: Pützchens Markt opens this Friday, September 7. At 1:30pm there is a historic parade. At 3pm, there is the opening of the Bayern tent with trumpeter Bruce Kaputsa and the band “Räuber.”

Rhenish evening: There is a religious service at the fairgrounds on Sunday at 10am, and starting at 6pm in the Bayern tent, there will be an evening with well-known bands, including Kasalla, Querbeat and others. Admission is free.

Other features: On Monday, local radio station Bonn-Rhein-Sieg is there and an after-job party begins at 6pm. On Tuesday at 10pm at the end of the fair, there will be a big fireworks display.

Opening hours: The fair takes place on Friday and Saturday from 12pm to 3am, Sunday from 10am to 1am, Monday from 12pm to 1am and Tuesday from 12pm until midnight.

For further information about the fair in English, please visit the website: https://www.nrw-tourism.com/puetzchens-markt-fair-in-bonn

(Orig. text: Holger Willcke, Translation: Carol Kloeppel)