The evening began at the St Nicolas Church Yard with brief welcome addresses by Mayor Burkhard Jung, Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer, and the Federal Government Commissioner for the Eastern States, Carsten Schneider. The opening was accompanied musically by an ensemble from the University of Music and Theatre “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” Leipzig: Svetlana Riger, violin / Javier Pardo Gil, viola / Jordi Albelda, cello.
candles' podium '89, candle sponsorship and guided tours
On the St Nicolas Church Yard stood the traditional candles' podium '89, which was illuminated over the course of the evening by visitors using thousands of tealights. At all information stands in the city centre, visitors received candles free of charge. Anyone interested could also make a cash donation to take on a symbolic candle sponsorship. In 2023, the proceeds went to EuropaMaidan Leipzig e. V., founded in 2014 when hundreds of thousands of people in Ukraine demonstrated against the government. The association collects donations for projects in Ukraine as well as for refugees and for Ukrainians who have remained in their country.
At 8 pm, 8:30 pm and 9 pm guided tours to the historic sites of the Peaceful Revolution started. Participation was free of charge, and no registration was required.
The meeting point/start was at the St Nicolas Church Yard at the column.
