Dorffest Kleinhammer

Werdohl and the district of Kleinhammer

If you are traveling in the southern Sauerland, in the Märkischer Kreis southeast of Hagen, you will come to Werdohl — an industrial community with around 17,000 inhabitants on the Lenne river. Werdohl consists of several districts, one of which is Kleinhammer — a small village on the outskirts with a characteristic Sauerland atmosphere: single-family homes, its own primary school, a lively club life, and a strong identification of the residents with their district.

Village festival on the schoolyard

The venue for the festival is the Kleinhammer schoolyard — the primary school's playground, which is repurposed as a festival area during the summer holidays. This choice is typical for Sauerland village festivals: the schoolyard is one of the few larger paved areas in the village, and centrally located at the same time. During the festival, a stage, beer stand, stalls, and a festival tent are set up, and the school's playground equipment is integrated into the children's festival offerings.

Three days of Sauerland village atmosphere

The 2026 village festival runs for three days from Friday, July 10th to Sunday, July 12th, 2026 — in the middle of the NRW summer holidays, ideal for a family staycation.

Friday — Evening Opening

Opening on Friday from 7 p.m. First live music or DJ program on the stage, beer service from the local beer pavilion, small selection of snacks. Friday evening is traditionally the meeting place for young adults and the young at heart — setting the mood, kicking off the weekend.

Saturday — Children's Program and Laser Show

Saturday is full operation from 3 p.m. In the afternoon, there is a children's program with a bouncy castle, face painting, and games — the ideal family afternoon. In the evening, a DJ program on the stage and, towards the late evening, a spectacular laser show — the visual highlight of the entire festival weekend, with colorful laser light projected over the schoolyard and into the Sauerland night sky.

Sunday — Wheelbarrow Race

Sunday starts from 10 a.m. The highlight is the wheelbarrow race from 11 a.m. — a traditional village competition where wheelbarrows are tested for skill, speed, or originality. How exactly the competition works varies from year to year — typical disciplines include wheelbarrow races, wheelbarrow skill (obstacle course), or themed wheelbarrow costumes. A charming village tradition that connects generations. Special raffle from 1 p.m. — lucky draw with attractive prizes from regional shops and donated packages.

Kleinhammer Village Community as Organizer

The organizer of the festival is the Kleinhammer Village Community — a voluntary civic initiative that prepares the festival weekend throughout the year. Setup, beer service, program organization, laser show booking, raffle acquisition: everything is managed voluntarily. Proceeds flow back into village projects (school garden, playground, club funding).

Sauerland Village Festival Tradition

The Märkisches Sauerland is the land of village festivals. Practically every district — and there are hundreds in the Märkischer Kreis — organizes its own summer festival, usually with a school or community center location, with the village community or shooting club as the organizer, with programs combining live music, children's festivals, and small competitions. Kleinhammer joins this tradition — and differs from the majority through the spectacular laser show on Saturday evening, a modern element that makes the festival attractive to a younger audience as well.