Fascinating fireworks at St. John's Day: Lorsch in all its glory!

Fascinating fireworks at St. John's Day: Lorsch in all its glory!

This year's St. John's Festival in Lorsch, which took place from June 13th to 16th, 2025, is now history. The event reached an impressive climax at the popular Karolingerplatz with a grand finale in the form of an eleven-minute fireworks display. Many enthusiastic spectators secured the best seats on the monastery hill early and also gathered at other parts of the festival site and in front of the allotment gardens to enjoy the spectacle. Admiring “ahs” and “ohs” echoed through the night as smartphone cameras captured the glowing effects.

The popularity of fireworks continues unabated. The city festival organizers describe the pyrotechnic displays as impressive and unique, especially in a region where summer fireworks are few and far between. Despite the increasing discussion about the environmental friendliness of fireworks, in recent years Lorsch has not been able to push through a majority motion that would have called for fireworks to be removed from the program. Here tradition meets the modern desire for sustainable solutions - a topic that was certainly on the minds of many visitors who stayed at the festival.

Festive diversity and tradition

The St. John's Festival has established itself as an integral part of the Hessian tradition. In addition to the large fireworks display, the festival offered numerous attractions: a variety of showmen and rides provided entertainment, and the creative market presented handicrafts. A marquee where beer and wine were served rounded off the experience. Particularly noteworthy are the increasing number of visitors recorded in recent years. Not surprisingly, the festival is always celebrated around June 24th, providing a welcome opportunity to strengthen community and maintain local traditions.

However, the fireworks display is not without controversy. The environmental impact of pyrotechnic effects cannot be denied. According to reports from BR.de Most fireworks are made from black powder and chemical reactions that can be harmful to the environment. The metal salts used for coloring, such as lead, arsenic and other toxins, are particularly problematic. Advances in research are needed to develop less harmful alternatives.

A look into the future

Research by chemist Rusan is intensively focused on reducing these ingredients and testing less toxic mixtures. However, it remains a challenge to find market-driven, environmentally friendly solutions that are also economically viable. For the fireworks industry, New Year's Eve is the most important sales period, in which almost 90% of revenue is generated. The search for sustainable options will therefore continue to gain in importance, also in the context of St. John's Day, which awakens the desire of many for a carefree celebration.

Despite these challenges, the fireworks at St. John's Day in Lorsch remain an emotional highlight that brings generations together and ignites enthusiasm. Many hope that future developments will make it possible to enjoy the magic of the night with even greater consideration for our environment.