City, country, old, young, conservative, progressive: OLMA in St.Gallen brings together people from the most diverse walks of life. Every year, certain types of visitors can be found at Switzerland's largest public trade fair. This year, a new one has been added.
The Säulifan
When the Säuli race for victory in the arena, there's no stopping "Säuli fans": they stand out in the crowd with their heated flailing arms, are loud and passionate about pig racing. An OLMA without pig racing would not be a real OLMA for these visitors.
The bratwurst gourmet
This group of visitors is very inconspicuous. Bratwurst gourmets stroll from grill to grill and leisurely enjoy the subtle differences between the bratwursts from different butchers. The only thing that puts the bratwurst gourmet off her stride is the question: "A little mustard on the side?"
The bratwurst philistine
Bratwurst-banaus are a rare species at OLMA. You can recognize them mainly by the question: "Dörf i e chli mustard däzue?"
Former-school-goer-from-away
These OLMA visitors are masters of disguise. During a cozy aperitif with work colleagues in the tasting halls, they can disappear behind a counter in a flash if they sense their natural enemies: former schoolmates who you meet to find out why you haven't missed them in the past 20 years.
Chüeligurt carrier
It takes a trained eye to spot this group. They are family fathers accompanying their offspring on the family course, brown cattle breeders who have just bought a new favorite cow at auction, or an urban hipster couple learning about alternative fuels or sustainable wood production at a special show.
The hall inspectors
Thanks to the new St.Galler Kantonalbank hall, you will meet an OLMA type for the first time at the trade fair this year. This type of visitor is likely to be characterized above all by their curiosity and spend an above-average amount of time in the large new building on the east side of the exhibition grounds. The "hall inspectors" can be recognized by the impressed and satisfied look on their faces when they leave the new St.Galler Kantonalbank hall.
And this is how you understand them - five expressions from St.Gallen
- "Am Vieri im Füfi": A catchphrase for the ultimate OLMA meeting place. People meet at 4 p.m. in Hall 5 (and also 4) to taste and celebrate.
- "Do you know, im sibni...??": This question tends to be asked by older OLMA visitors who have celebrated wild parties in Hall 7, which burned down in 2000.
- "Chröpelig": But piano at parties, otherwise you could get "chröpelig", i.e. nauseous.
- "Näbis go pöstele": There are all sorts of things to see, experience and buy at OLMA. You're sure to find "näbis" or something for yourself.
- "... unless you're a cheapskate": cheapskates are unlikely to go on a shopping spree at OLMA. Luckily for them, however, you can try one or two things for free.
- "Fairground": Don't call it "Chilbi"! In St.Gallen, the funfair is called "Jahrmarkt". Why the people of Eastern Switzerland chose a word with two "R "s is not known.
All information about OLMA at olma.ch.
Unique prizes can be won in the OLMA competition: olma.ch/competition
