Honey schnapps man Soest: An institution is missing from the funfair

Honigschnaps-Mann Soest – for many fans of Allerheiligenkirmes, these words mean much more than a drink. They bring back memories of a small wafer cup, a cheerful man on the microphone and a stall where people met again year after year. But when the 688th Allerheiligenkirmes begins on 4 November 2026, this familiar voice will be missing: Johannes Heinrich Amelunxen will not be there this year.

The funfair will still be a huge event, with flashing rides, music and crowds. And yet a place can change when just one person is missing. Not every tradition is a carousel. Sometimes it is someone standing behind a counter and making people laugh.

Honigschnaps-Mann Soest will be missing – and people will notice

There are familiar routes around a funfair that you hardly have to plan any more. First a glance at the Ferris wheel, then a wander between the stalls, later a portion of funfair food – and eventually you head to Dominikanerstraße. For many, Amelunxen's honey schnapps stall was a regular meeting place there. It wasn't just a place to get a drink. People joked, sang and celebrated together.

When the music turned up, the song “Drei weiße Tauben” was part of it too. Amelunxen commented on what was happening with his unmistakable humour and got visitors into his own special funfair rhythm. This gave the little stall a presence that cannot be measured in metres, prices or ride times. It was a piece of Soest's personal funfair history.

That's why the news has affected so many regular visitors. Europe's largest old-town funfair thrives on new rides, old favourites and unexpected encounters. But it also thrives on familiar faces who are still in the same place years later and yet feel like a little highlight every time.

The “carousel without hydraulics”: why Amelunxen became a legend

Amelunxen affectionately called his honey schnapps stall the “carousel without hydraulics”. At first, it sounds like a funfair joke. In fact, it sums up his act quite well: you don't always need engines or spectacular technology to create a good mood. Sometimes all it takes is a microphone, music and the ability to bring strangers together for a moment.

His honey liqueur was served in edible wafer cups. But people who came just for the drink often stayed for the atmosphere. Between pats on the back, singing and little jokes, a meeting place took shape that became familiar to many people from Soest and visitors from elsewhere. The stall was one of those special features that shape the character of Allerheiligenkirmes just as much as the peal of church bells and the rides among the historic buildings.

Amelunxen's own event retrospective also shows that he had long been more than an ordinary sales stall. The company recalls television and radio appearances, including a live WDR broadcast from the funfair in 2009. The attention was not on a new machine, but on a person and his infectious joy. You can still read this retrospective on Amelunxen's website.

A family story that has belonged to Soest for generations

Amelunxen's story is closely connected with the city. In an interview at the Christmas market in 2025, he said that his family had already been part of Allerheiligenkirmes for around 90 years and had had a presence at Soest's Christmas market for 37 years. Such figures tell us more than just a story of business continuity. They represent generations of visitors who know the same name.

Perhaps you went there as a child and later showed the stall to your friends. Perhaps you heard the music from afar, before you even reached Dominikanerstraße. These are the kinds of experiences that turn a fair into a personal tradition. That's why a stall that takes up little space on the site map can loom large in your memory.

Of course, the funfair goes on when a showman takes a year off. But history is made not only where the most spectacular new ride stands. Sometimes it lives in the people who have become a familiar part of the townscape over many decades.

Why isn't Heinrich Amelunxen taking part in 2026?

The news was announced on 7 October 2026 in connection with the press conference for the 688th Allerheiligenkirmes. According to head of the public order office Detlef Märte, Johannes Heinrich Amelunxen had withdrawn his application at short notice. Personal reasons were given. No further details are publicly known.

That is the crucial difference between confirmed news and rumours: we don't know exactly why Amelunxen has decided not to take part. It would therefore be unfair to speculate about his personal circumstances. All we know for certain is that his honey schnapps stall will not be part of the funfair this year.

Even at the town hall, the cancellation was met with regret. After all, anyone who has experienced Soest during the five days of the funfair knows that its special atmosphere cannot be planned in full. Much of it comes from cherished rituals. And Amelunxen was one of them.

A new stall on Dominikanerstraße: Soester Wieseneier

The familiar spot will not be completely empty, though. After the short-notice cancellation, Sebastian Gockel and Sina Sausmikat of the Soester Wieseneier have the opportunity to run their own stand at the Allerheiligenkirmes for the first time. Their sales wagon is called “Ei-Catcher”. The focus is on homemade egg liqueur, which will also be served in waffle cups.

There is an appealing story behind it: the pair had already applied for a spot at the funfair, but were initially turned down. When Amelunxen's spot became available, a last-minute opportunity arose after all. They had their wagon specially refurbished and decorated by local graffiti artists. Five varieties of egg liqueur are planned for their debut.

The important thing is this: A new stand does not have to be a replacement for a person. The Soester Wieseneier face a big challenge and bring their own idea. In reports about their preparations, they show great respect for Amelunxen and his importance to the funfair. Visitors can therefore look forward to a new story while also missing the much-loved old stand. Both can be true.

Honigschnaps-Mann Soest: Will there be a reunion 2027?

This is probably the question many funfair fans are asking. The honest answer is: A return by Johannes Heinrich Amelunxen in 2027 has neither been confirmed nor ruled out so far. According to the information published so far, he has cancelled his participation in the 2026 event. This does not mean that he has definitively said goodbye to the Allerheiligenkirmes.

The next Soest Allerheiligenkirmes is scheduled for 3 to 7 November 2027. Whether the familiar honey schnapps stand will be back then remains uncertain. That is precisely why we should not treat this current break as a permanent goodbye. We can only hope Amelunxen is doing well and can decide for himself whether and when he would like to return.

Find the latest information about this year's funfair, rides and programme in our event listing for the Allerheiligenkirmes Soest 2026. You can also find other funfair dates in our funfair calendar.

Sometimes it's not the stall that's missing – it's a piece of the funfair feeling

When the first rides switch on their lights, Soest's old town will once again fill with voices, music and excitement in 2026. People will embrace, families will stroll through the narrow streets together, and memories that last until next year will be made on every corner. The funfair lives on. Only one familiar spot will be different.

Perhaps that is exactly what makes the Allerheiligenkirmes so special: it is not just a collection of attractions. It is a collection of stories that are retold every year. The story of Johannes Heinrich Amelunxen is certainly one of them—even in a year when he is not standing behind the counter.

So we wish him all the best. And if one day the first honey schnapps is served in a waffle cup again and the three white doves return in song, that will be one of those small but special funfair moments for many people in Soest. Until then, there are memories—and the hope of seeing him again.

Now it's your turn: What personal associations do you have with Amelunxen and his “carousel without hydraulics”? Do you remember the stand from your childhood? Share your favourite memory in the comments. Stories like these should not be lost.

Sources and image credits (as of 3 November 2026): Soester Anzeiger, 7 October 2026: Heinrich Amelunxen's cancellation; Soester Anzeiger, 28 October 2026: Ei-Catcher / Soester Wieseneier; Amelunxen – event review; City of Soest – official funfair dates. This Instagram post was also shared on the subject; its content could not be independently reviewed by the editorial team. The cover image shows Amelunxen's actual stand 2009, photo by Gordon Bangemann (CC BY 3.0, licence details in the image). The other image is an archive photo of the Soest funfair 2010 (arnie2105, CC BY-SA 2.0).