Amtsfeuerwehrfest Amt Bargteheide-Land

Fire Brigade Culture in Schleswig-Holstein

The volunteer fire brigades are the social backbone of almost every village in Schleswig-Holstein. Each Amt — the administrative level between municipality and district — organizes an annual Amtsfeuerwehrfest where the brigades of the Amt meet, practice together, honor voluntary service, and celebrate socially. In 2026, it is the Elmenhorst Volunteer Fire Brigade in the Amt Bargteheide-Land (district of Stormarn in the state of Schleswig-Holstein) that is hosting the festival.

What Characterizes the Festival

• Festive Parade with all participating brigades in uniform and vehicles through the festival location
• Awards Ceremony for special services, service anniversaries, and outstanding operations
• Competitions between the brigades — extinguishing attack, obstacle course, skill exercises
• Demonstrations with hose tests, rescue exercises, and technical assistance
• Fire Safety Education for citizens
• Social Gathering with food stalls, live music, and dancing in the evening
• Children's Program with fire trucks, face painting, and mini extinguishing attacks

The Elmenhorst Volunteer Fire Brigade

The Elmenhorst Volunteer Fire Brigade celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2026 — an occasion to host the Amtsfeuerwehrfest themselves this year. This interlocking double celebration makes the date a special event in the region between Hamburg and Lübeck.

Community Proximity

The Amtsfeuerwehrfest is not a professional event, but an occasion to which the public is explicitly invited. Here you will experience the close connection between the fire brigade and the village community that has grown over generations in Schleswig-Holstein — grandparents, parents, and children as brigade members, club members, and festival visitors.