Lichtenberg/Erzgebirge Village Festival

Three Days of Erzgebirge Village Festivity

In the Erzgebirge village of Lichtenberg, nestled between Frauenstein and Hartmannsdorf-Reichenau, the community celebrates its traditional village festival on the last weekend in May. What began in 1982 as the 775th-anniversary celebration has become a fixed date in the Saxon event calendar — supported by a consortium of clubs, the marksmen's club, and many volunteers.

Bird Shooting, Parade, Marksmen's Ball — The Pillars

Two traditional elements have shaped the festival for decades: the traditional bird shooting (Vogelschießen), where the marksmen's king is determined in several rounds, and the grand parade through the village on Sunday afternoon. The festive conclusion is the marksmen's ball (Schützenball) on Sunday evening with live dance music. A special tradition is also the children's bird shooting on Saturday morning — to introduce the young visitors to the marksmen's culture early on.

Light Show and Bonfire

On Saturday evening, torches and lanterns illuminate the village: The lantern parade winds through Lichtenberg, culminating in a bonfire with brass music. Fireworks complete the evening — one of the visual highlights of the weekend. A flea market on the festival grounds on Saturday afternoon and a fairy tale play are also part of the program.

Lichtenberg, Mittelsachsen, and the Osterzgebirge

Lichtenberg is located in the Mittelsachsen district, at the transition to the Osterzgebirge. The municipality comprises several districts (including Weigmannsdorf-Müdisdorf, which has its own village festival) and is surrounded by forests, meadows, and small mill streams. Visitors to the village festival can combine their stay with a visit to Freiberg, the historic mining town with St. Marien Cathedral, or a hike to the Frauenstein castle ruins.