625 Years Seidewinkel – Anniversary Festival Elsterheide

625 Years Seidewinkel

Seidewinkel (Sorbian Židžino) is a small district of the municipality of Elsterheide in the Bautzen district. In 2026, the 625th anniversary of the village's first mention will be celebrated with a four-day festival from June 4th to 7th, 2026. An opportunity to experience time and community in one of the typical Sorbian-German Lusatian villages.

Four Days with Their Own Atmosphere

Each day of the festival has its own character:

• Thursday, June 4th — Doppelkopf tournament at Eibhof Jaeger (admission €5, registration by May 25th with Steven Gutsche, +49 160 4483045)
• Friday, June 5th — Festival opening (program to be announced by the festival committee)
• Saturday, June 6th — Fun games starting at 11 a.m. with the Seidewinkel youth; in the evening from 6 p.m. Open-air band night with Allee 83, Tigerlilly and Sperrgebiet (admission €5)
• Sunday, June 7th — "Essen am Feldrand", a traditional community meal: starting at 10 a.m. with a church service, 11 a.m. breakfast with the Königswartha brass band, 11:15 a.m. tractor parade

Lusatian Tradition

"Essen am Feldrand" is a typical Upper Lusatian custom – a communal meal directly in the fields, celebrating the connection between the village, agriculture, and the population. With the church service, the Königswartha brass band, and the tractor parade, it is a moving start to the festival Sunday – also absolutely worth seeing for visitors from the surrounding area. The Königswartha brass band brings the Sorbian-German musical tradition of the region to life.

Between Hoyerswerda and Bautzen

Elsterheide is located in the north of the Bautzen district, near Hoyerswerda. The area is part of the historically Sorbian-German bilingual Lusatia. In the state of Saxony, this region maintains a special character that is authentically visible in festivals like this.