Events and festivals in Lower Saxony on October 10 and 11, 2026: Einbeck's Eulenfest celebrates its 50th anniversary, Hitzacker holds the 429th Gallusmarkt and the Göttingen Literaturherbst ends on October 11.
The Jimie stage stands on Möncheplatz in Einbeck. From October 9 to 11, 2026, the town celebrates its Eulenfest there. Events and festivals in Lower Saxony on October 10 and 11, 2026: Einbeck's Eulenfest celebrates its 50th anniversary, Hitzacker holds the 429th Gallusmarkt and the Göttingen Literaturherbst ends on October 11.
Eulenfest in Einbeck: four stages and the Winterbock tapping
Einbeck's Eulenfest, launched in 1977, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026. It is the largest town festival in southern Lower Saxony, which draws around 100,000 visitors every year. Marktplatz, Möncheplatz and the neighbouring streets of the town centre form the festival grounds.
The Winterbock tapping opens the festival.
Einbeck is regarded as the birthplace of bock beer. At numerous stalls the Einbecker brewery pours its various bock beers, alongside bockwurst, potato pancakes, crêpes and fried pastries. More than 200 market stalls run by showmen, craftspeople, specialty traders and artists fill the old town.
Four stages with live music are spread across the town centre, among them the Jimie stage on Möncheplatz. Regional and national bands play pop, rock, Schlager and electronic music, and cover bands are part of the line-up. On Sunday a well-known Schlager guest star traditionally performs, and the StadtpARTie Einbeck presents itself at its own stand.
Carousels and a Ferris wheel are on hand, along with rides for children and adults, and Sunday, October 11, is a shopping Sunday from 1 pm to 6 pm and is aimed especially at families. In the evening the aftershow party follows, which, in the organisers' words, makes Einbeck shake. It is aimed at a young crowd that wants to dance. Entry to the festival is free.
Fairs, potatoes and shanties
In Hitzacker on the Elbe, the Gallusmarkt marks its 429th edition on the historic town island. On Saturday, 10/10/2026, a karaoke party and fireworks are on the bill. Sunday brings a flea market and a Kuschelmarkt in the morning and the wine harvest festival with its wine queen in the afternoon. Rides, shooting galleries and game stalls run throughout.
The Norddeutscher Ponymarkt in Hunteburg, near Bohmte, enters its 58th edition. On Saturday the big animal market opens with horses, ponies and sheep, and breeders, dealers and enthusiasts travel in from all over northern Germany. More than 160 exhibitors show their wares across more than 25,000 square metres, in tents and in the open. At Osnabrück Zoo, re-enactment groups pitch camp for the Mittelalter Spectaculum, blacksmiths work at the fire and falconers fly birds of prey. The knights' tournament runs several times a day. The Spectaculum kicks off the Lower Saxon zoo days, and entry is included in the regular zoo ticket.
Sunday, October 11, from 11 am to 6 pm: the Delmenhorst potato festival fills the town centre and the market hall with about 90 stalls selling potato pancakes, fried potatoes, potato soup and chips, alongside honey and crafts. In the potato-peeling contest, entrants of all ages try to peel as many potatoes as cleanly as possible in a set time. Live music and a collection of historic vintage tractors complete the day, and the shops open from 1 pm. Entry is free.
On October 11, several shanty choirs from northern Germany sing at the Stade Shanty Choir Festival at different spots in the old town, from the Hanseatic Old Harbour to the fish market. Access to most performances is free, and donations for the choirs are welcome. The Göttingen Literaturherbst closes its 35th edition the same day, after opening on October 2 with readings, talks, discussions and musical-literary performances.