Day of Diversity Dassendorf

A Festival of Civic Engagement

The Amt Hohe Elbgeest comprises five municipalities in the south of the district Herzogtum Lauenburg in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, southeast of Hamburg on the A24 motorway: Dassendorf, Hamwarde, Börnsen, Escheburg, and Hohenhorn. Once a year, associations, schools, fire departments, and social organizations from all five municipalities gather for the Day of Diversity in Dassendorf — on the grounds of the Amt at Christa-Höppner-Platz. The festival is a showcase of civic engagement in the Amt.

Associations, Sports, Culture, Social Engagement

Actors from public life present themselves at stalls: sports and cultural associations showcase their offerings, schools present projects, and social organizations like the German Red Cross and the DLRG recruit members. The mix of sports, culture, education, and social engagement gives the festival its name: it's about diversity — of associations, generations, and backgrounds.

Fire Departments as a Highlight

A traditional highlight is the firefighting drills by the volunteer fire departments from Dassendorf, Hamwarde, Börnsen, Escheburg, and Hohenhorn. The departments demonstrate their operational readiness to the public — a mix of demonstration and recruitment drive for young talent. The region's fire departments are closely networked; mutual support in emergencies is a matter of course in the Amt.

Family-Friendly Program

There is an extensive children's program for families: face painting, creative stations, penalty shootout competitions, tactile experiences, and play activities organized by local kindergartens. Catering is provided by 'Die Kleine Pause', offering burgers, currywurst, fries, and specialties, among others. Free admission — the festival is intended as a meeting place for all residents of the Amt Hohe Elbgeest and their guests from the surrounding area of Hamburg.