Bergparade Olbernhau

Mining Customs on the 2nd Advent

The Bergparade Olbernhau is one of around 19 Erzgebirge mining parades that make the value of the region's mining heritage visible every year during Advent. Since 2016, the customs of the Erzgebirge mining parades have been counted among the intangible UNESCO World Heritage. Olbernhau traditionally holds its parade on the 2nd Advent weekend – it has been an integral part of the town's festival calendar in the Erzgebirgskreis district since 1999.

Route and Atmosphere

The start and end point of the parade is the Rittergut (manor house) in Olbernhau's town centre (Markt 5). The route leads via Albertstraße, Gessingplatz, August-Bebel-Straße, Innere Grünthaler Straße, the Markt (market square), Blumenauer Straße and back to the Rittergut. The parade is led by the Saigerhüttenknappschaft and friendly miners', smelters', and guilds' associations. The famous 'living Christmas figures' – Nutcracker, Little Rider, and Gingerbread Man – are also part of the procession and particularly fascinate the youngest spectators.

Concert and Tower Brass Music

The parade concludes with a concert by the Stadt Olbernhau Music Corps and the Bergmännischer Musikverein Ehrenfriedersdorf (Mining Music Association Ehrenfriedersdorf). Afterwards, you can listen to the tower brass music at the town church before the convivial gathering with the Erzgesellen (miners' companions) begins at 6:30 PM. The Bergparade runs parallel to the local Christmas market – ideal for combining both experiences.

Olbernhau, Centre of Saigerhütte History

Olbernhau in the Erzgebirgskreis district is not least known for its Saigerhütte Grünthal (copper smelter), an exceptional industrial history monument that is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Ore Mountains/Krušnohoří Mining Region. The mining parade from this town therefore has a particularly authentic historical anchoring.