Dorffest 680 Years Groß Kölzig

A Village Celebrates Itself

The district of Groß Kölzig, part of the municipality of Neiße-Malxetal in the southern Brandenburg Amt Döbern-Land, is celebrating its 680th anniversary in 2026. From Friday, June 5th, to Sunday, June 7th, 2026, the festival grounds at the Sportlerheim will transform into a three-day meeting point for residents, former Kölzig inhabitants, and guests. The official program begins on Friday at 2:30 PM.

An Old Lausitz Story

Groß Kölzig was first mentioned in a document in 1346 – making it one of the older settlements in the southern Niederlausitz. The region is characterized by an ice-age shaped landscape, vast pine and mixed forests, and a long history of mining – the nearby open-cast mines (now recultivated areas or lakes) were once among the largest lignite mining sites in the GDR. Today, the landscape is changing: open-cast mines are becoming lakes, industrial areas are turning into natural spaces, and villages like Groß Kölzig are finding their place in an increasingly attractive tourist region.

The Three-Day Program

The anniversary festival follows the classic structure of a Brandenburg village celebration. Friday, June 5th: Program start at 2:30 PM on the festival grounds, opening by the municipality, followed by sports and club activities, live music and dancing in the evening. Saturday, June 6th: Festival day with sports competitions, club demonstrations, children's program, festive parade, and a grand evening dance. Sunday, June 7th: Festival service, joint morning pint (Frühschoppen), family program, and winding down.

Organizers and Village Clubs

The festival is jointly organized by the municipality of Neiße-Malxetal, the Amt Döbern-Land, and the village clubs – sports club, heritage society, volunteer fire department, women's choir, and others. Village anniversaries of this magnitude are the most important annual opportunity in Brandenburg to showcase volunteer engagement and bring several generations together under a festival tent.

Neiße-Malxetal — Villages along the Polish Border

The municipality of Neiße-Malxetal (Spree-Neiße district) comprises several small villages in close proximity to the Lusatian Neisse river – and thus the Polish border. Groß Kölzig is the most populous district and the traditional village center. Visitors to the village anniversary can easily combine their stay with excursions to the nearby recultivated area of the former open-cast mines or a day trip to Forst (Lausitz) and the Polish town of Gubin.