700th Anniversary of Lichtenau

700 Years Lichtenau — "Lechtenowe" 1326

The first documented mention of Lichtenau dates back to the year 1326, then under the name "Lechtenowe". Exactly 700 years later, the town in the far east of North Rhine-Westphalia is celebrating its grand anniversary with a festival calendar spread throughout the year. The motto: "Tradition Meets Future" – a conscious tension between historical heritage and the ambition to make the town fit for the next century.

Festival Weekend October 3–4, 2026

The main festival of the anniversary year will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 3rd and 4th, 2026, in the Lichtenau Schützenhalle. A colorful program is planned with stage acts, club presentations, an attractive market with local vendors, and a variety of hands-on activities for families. As October 3rd is also German Unity Day, many visitors from the region are expected.

Full Anniversary Year Program

The 2026 festival year is not limited to the October weekend – events are spread throughout the year:

• June 14, 2026 — Children's Festival, especially for families with children
• July 10, 2026 — Pub Quiz for adults, in several Lichtenau pubs
• September 18–19, 2026 — Open-Air Cinema, possibly with films related to the town's history
• October 3–4, 2026 — Main Festival in the Schützenhalle
• Further events in the 15 districts (Burgstube-Treffen, Schützenfeste, concerts, readings)

Lichtenau in the Paderborn District

Lichtenau is a town with around 10,500 inhabitants in the far east of the Paderborn district, on the border with Hesse. Geographically, it is located on the Paderborn Plateau, transitioning into the Eggegebirge. The town is one of the largest area municipalities in Westphalia – with 15 districts spread over a wide area. Lichtenau is known regionally primarily as the site of Dalheim Monastery (today the LWL Museum for Monastic Culture).

Tradition and Future

The motto "Tradition Meets Future" is also reflected in the town's profile: Lichtenau is one of the largest wind energy locations in Germany – hundreds of wind turbines stand around the town, making Lichtenau a symbol of the German energy transition. At the same time, the rural structure, the active club life, and the Catholic-influenced traditions of shooting clubs (Schützen) and customs are deeply rooted. Both – the high-tech future and rural tradition – are celebrated in the anniversary year.

The 15 Districts

The festival year explicitly includes all 15 districts. In addition to the core town of Lichtenau, Atteln, Hakenberg, Henglarn, Herbram-Wald, Holtheim, Husen, Iggenhausen, Kleinenberg, Lichtenau-Junkerntal, Lichtenau-Süd, Münster, Etteln, Asseln, and Husen belong to the town. Each of these places has its own shooting clubs (Schützenvereine), carnival societies (Karnevalsgesellschaften), and traditional associations (Brauchtumsverbände) that enrich the anniversary with their own contributions.