New Year's Eve 24 hour festival "Silvester Mile"
In Case You Missed It Those who attended, and it would seem that everyone in Munich did, experienced the Bavarian capital’s biggest party this side of Oktoberfest. Between December 31, 1999, and January 1, 2000, more than 320,000 thousand people flocked to the 24-hour Ludwigstrasse festival known as the “Silvester Mile.” Though these numbers exceeded organizers’ expectations, police were able to control the crowds. As few people violated the city’s ban on rockets along the Silvestermeile, and tipsy 2000-welcoming guests displayed a certain amount of decorum, fire and police departments have dubbed the fête “the calmest New Year’s Eve in Mun nich ever.” Though a few light injuries were reported, it seems the only real annoyance was losing sight of friends in the sea of celebratory bodies. Though sponsors — who laid out over 90 percent of the DM 2.2 million that it cost to stage the bash — and city officials are entertaining the idea of a second “Mile”, no concrete plans have been made for ringing in the real turn of the new millennium, 2001. <<< ssT