Bergmannsfest Lehesten
Tradition of the Slate Mining Town — three days of Bergmannsfest on the first weekend of July
About Bergmannsfest Lehesten
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Black Gold — The Lehesten Slate Tradition
Lehesten is a small town with just under 1,800 inhabitants in the south of Thuringia, in the Saalfeld-Rudolstadt district, on the Rennsteig. For centuries, the town was known for its slate mining — the "black gold" that was extracted, split, and processed into roofing slate here. The quarries, slate mills, and the miners' tradition shaped the townscape well into the 20th century. Today, the "Historic Slate Mining Lehesten" technical monument is a geopark and museum that showcases this past. The Bergmannsfest combines this tradition with a folk festival (Volksfest) atmosphere.
Festival Parade in Miners' Regalia
The highlight of the festival is the traditional parade, in which Lehesten miners march through the town in historical regalia — mining jackets, pickaxe and hammer, miner's hat. The parade preserves a tradition that evolved from the miners' shift-change customs. Lehesten has its own miners' orchestra that musically accompanies the parade, along with fife and drum corps and club delegations from the region.
Slate Extraction Demonstrations
Traditional slate extraction and processing techniques are demonstrated on the festival grounds. You can see how slate blocks are split, how roofing slate is made from the rough slabs — a craft tradition that has almost been lost in the 21st century. In addition, neighboring craftspeople (blacksmith, woodturner, basket weaver from Wurzbach, glassblower from Lauscha) present their skills — the Lehesten guild market (Zunftmarkt) was a fixed part of the program in the past and is continued today.
Folk Festival and Festival Grounds
In parallel, the actual folk festival (Volksfest) takes place on the festival grounds with carousels, amusement rides, a festival tent, and a stage program. Regional bands alternate on the festival tent stage — Schlager, cover bands, folk music. Children's programs and small concerts take place in the Lunapark. Lehesten and the Slate Land Geopark are also an attractive travel destination outside of the Bergmannsfest — the Rennsteig, Thuringia's most famous hiking trail, runs directly above the town.
Bergmannsfest Lehesten — edition 2026
Bergmannsfest 2026
From July 3rd to 5th, 2026, Lehesten will once again celebrate its traditional Bergmannsfest. Parade in miners' regalia, demonstrations of slate extraction and processing, folk festival (Volksfest) on the festival grounds with carousels and a festival tent, live music by regional bands. The tradition of the slate mining town is visibly preserved — even though the slate mills have long been silent, the "black gold" remains in Lehesten's collective memory.
Programme Bergmannsfest Lehesten 2026
Program Highlights 2026 — Bergmannsfest Lehesten
- Friday, July 3rd — Festival Opening: Opening at the festival tent; evening live music with regional bands
- Saturday, July 4th — Main Festival Day: All-day folk festival (Volksfest), carousels, and amusement rides; slate extraction demonstrations in the Geopark; afternoon Festival Parade in miners' regalia through the town; evening dance event with a cover band in the festival tent
- Sunday, July 5th — Festival Finale: Morning pint with the miners' orchestra; children's program in the Lunapark; afternoon final concerts in the festival tent; festival concludes Sunday evening
- Guild Market: Blacksmith, woodturner, basket weaver from Wurzbach, glassblower from Lauscha
- Folk Festival (Volksfest): Carousels, swing boat, shooting gallery, snack stands
Highlights Bergmannsfest Lehesten 2026
- Festival parade in miners' regalia
- Slate extraction and processing demonstrations
- Miners' orchestra and fife and drum corps
- Guild market with glassblowers and blacksmiths
- One of the first weekends in July — Tradition
Prices Bergmannsfest Lehesten 2026
Festival grounds freely accessible. Amusement rides and food payable on site. Entry to the festival tent may require a small contribution (typically €3–5).
Practical information — Bergmannsfest Lehesten
Date 2026
Friday to Sunday, July 3rd to 5th, 2026 (first weekend of July).
Location
Lunapark and festival grounds Lehesten, 07349 Lehesten (Thuringian Forest, Rennsteig).
Getting There
By car: A9 Munich–Berlin, exit Lederhose, then federal roads via Saalfeld to Lehesten. By train: Saalfeld station, then bus or call-a-taxi.
Admission
Free entry to the festival grounds. Amusement rides and food payable on site.
Tip
Combine your festival visit with a guided tour of the "Historic Slate Mining Lehesten" technical monument — a geopark with slate mills, old quarries, and miners' trails. The Rennsteig runs directly above the town and is ideal for a hike afterwards.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Bergmannsfest Lehesten al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Bergmannsfest Lehesten
Lunapark und Festplatz Lehesten
Lunapark und Festplatz, 07349 Lehesten