Gathering in Paderborn once more, Libori remains a popular public attraction this year
The Libori Festival in Paderborn 2025 came to a grand close on August 3, marking another successful year for one of Germany's largest and oldest folk festivals. The final key event was a magnificent fireworks display, limited to 300 spectators on the rooftop of the Libori-Galerie under controlled conditions.
Safety was a top priority at this year's event. Controlled access with wristbands ensured the safety and order of the crowd, and no chairs were allowed on the rooftop due to safety and evacuation concerns. The fireworks, reaching up to 150 meters high, were launched from the garden of the Leokonvikt in the Südstadt district and accompanied by music broadcast on Radio Hochstift and throughout the festival rides area.
Throughout the festival, attendees enjoyed a broad cultural program, including live music acts such as Phil Fuldner at CONTI PARK and the band Hi! Spencer performing multiple nights. The Pottmarkt and the Ferris wheel were particularly popular attractions, and showmen and traders reported good sales.
Despite some reported cases of bodily harm, the festival passed off largely peacefully, with fewer deployments than the previous year. The city of Paderborn will present the final balance of the Libori festival on Monday, which is expected to include more precise data on economic outcomes, crowd sizes, and safety evaluations.
The Libori festival is more than just a fair for many in Paderborn; it is a meeting place for young and old. Alongside fairground attractions and giant sausages, there was an extensive cultural program and numerous religious services. Organizers and the city of Paderborn are satisfied with the concept of church, culture, and fair at the Libori festival in 2025.
In an effort to improve crowd control and emergency access, the Paderborn Fire Department tested the use of drones for crowd monitoring and future firefighting at the Libori festival. An audio report on the drone deployment is available. The Libori festival will continue until August 3, 2027.
Finally, the "Golden 'Liborischrein'" has been placed in the vault of the Paderborn Cathedral, symbolizing the end of another successful year for this cherished tradition.
In the aftermath of the Libori Festival 2025, attendees were engaged in more than just carnival rides and food stalls. They also had access to a rich cultural program, featuring live music acts and lifestyle events such as news segments and discussions about home-and-garden trends, broadcast from the spacious grounds of the Leokonvikt in the Südstadt district. Next year, festivalgoers can anticipate innovative improvements, with drone technology being test-run for crowd control and potential firefighting purposes.
