150 years ago - exactly on 24 December 1856 - gas-powered street lighting went into operation in Giessen. With a total of 190 lanterns, this marked the beginning of the gas age in the city. Stadtwerke Gießen AG (SWG) has taken this anniversary "150 years of gas supply in Gießen" as an opportunity to show the wide range of applications that natural gas offers today in a series of events throughout the year. It started in February with the Bauexpo, focussing on cooking with natural gas, followed by activities at the Mathematikum on the history of natural gas, at the natural gas filling station in Marburger Straße on the subject of natural gas as a fuel, at the Tour of Hope on the natural gas tumble dryer and finally at the GIESSEN 46ers' warm-up tour entitled "Wir heizen richtig ein" ("We heat up properly"). However, the highlight of the series of events so far has certainly been the football match between Borussia Dortmund and the SWG district team. In keeping with the cold season, SWG now wants to round off the anniversary year with two winter events. Under the title "SWG-Eisglitzern", the municipal utilities will conjure up an ice rink in the Hessenhallen from 27 November to 9 December. The crowning glory will be the SWG Winter Lights - an anniversary day for the whole family - on 9 December, also in the Hessenhallen.
SWG-Eisglitzern
From 27 November to 9 December, Halls 4 and 5 of the Hessenhallen will be transformed into a glittering winter wonderland with an ice rink. Every day from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., ice enthusiasts can put their skills to the test on the 20 x 15 metre ice rink. During this time, the ice rink in Hall 5 is open to everyone. Admission is free. If you don't have your own skates, you can hire them free of charge in the foyer.
Every day from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., two ice skating instructors will demonstrate how to glide skilfully over the ice on sharp blades. Also taking part: the multiple German ice dancing champion Hendryk Schamberger, also known from the RTL show "Dancing on Ice". Every day from 8 pm, it's "It's party time" on the ice rink. Visitors can do their laps to cool disco music.
In the mornings, SWG offers school classes a sporty alternative to PE lessons. Pupils can use the ice rink in their class groups for at least one hour. Skates are also available free of charge from the skate hire centre in the foyer. SWG provides a free bus transfer from the school to the ice rink.
On 1 December from 7 to 9 pm, Fabius, the mascot of SWG and the GIESSEN 46ers, will also try out his skating skills. On 6 December from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Father Christmas has announced his visit to the SWG ice skaters. Ice hockey is on the programme on 2 December from 2 to 4 pm and on 9 December from 4 to 5 pm: ERC Pohlheim presents the fast sport on the ice and invites all interested parties to train together.
Stadtwerke has organised its own curling tournament - the SWG Cup. The qualifying tournament takes place on 3 December from 10 am to 4 pm. The four group winners will qualify for the final round, which will be played on 9 December from 5 pm.
Anyone wishing to find out more about the success story of natural gas as an energy source will have the opportunity to do so in Hall 4. There, the 20 display walls of the historical exhibition take visitors on a journey through the 150-year history of Giessen's gas supply. Some contemporary household appliances can also be admired.
SWG Winter Lights
Fun for the whole family - that's what the big anniversary day on 9 December from 2 p.m. to midnight offers under the title "SWG Winter Lights". Star guest: the Hermes House Band. From 21:00, the party will really get going with the likeable Dutch band and their hits such as "Country roads", "I am what I am" and "Football's coming home" in Hall 4. Clown Ichmael and his event team will be looking after the little visitors to the anniversary day: little people aged 3 and over can take a look at a world full of artistry, juggling, pantomime, magic and acrobatics.
Hit Radio FFH, the number 1 radio station in Hesse, will be a guest in Hall 2 with RADIO ON TOUR.
Presenter Silvia Stenger will be entertaining young and old on a festively decorated FFH stage. Father Christmas will also be a guest here from 3 pm.
Late in the evening (from 10 p.m.), SWG will light up the night sky over the Hessenhallen with fireworks. Afterwards, Tom Pfeiffer and his band and Julie Thomas will be playing in Hall 4, and our top local clubs from various sports will be presenting themselves at the Bundesliga get-together at around 5.00 pm. The GIESSEN 46ers will of course be there, as well as TV 05 Mainzlar, TV Hüttenberg and a delegation from RSV Lahn-Dill.
The draw for the elahn competition, in which the first prize was 15,000 kilowatt hours of natural gas or EUR 750 in cash, will take place at 6.15 pm.
A varied entertainment programme will take place throughout the day on the grounds and in the Hessenhallen. Various music groups, an ice sculptor, walk acts, magic, comedy and juggling await visitors. But there will also be plenty of information. The energy experts from Stadtwerke Gießen will be demonstrating the versatility of natural gas as an energy source. One possible application - cooking with natural gas - will be demonstrated by professional chefs in cookery shows. Visitors can also find out about the various subsidy programmes that SWG has launched this year. If you are still looking for a Christmas present, you are sure to find something suitable at the SWG shop stand. If you want to find out more about how gas, a pure source of light, became a versatile energy source in Giessen, you can visit the historical exhibition in Hall 3. Here, the new exhibit at the Mathematics Centre, the "flame tube", makes lutes visible as gas flames.
In the open-air area in front of the Hessenhallen, well-known heating manufacturers will be presenting the latest trends in heating with natural gas. Naturally, the municipal utilities have made sure that visitors can replenish their energy reserves with food and drink in between this extensive programme. And all at family-friendly prices.