Dorffest Schiffweiler

A Village Festival with Stature

Schiffweiler is located in the Neunkirchen district, in the heart of the Saarland mining region. With around 16,000 inhabitants, the municipality is by no means a "village" in the literal sense – but the Dorffest, celebrated here every August since the mid-1980s, has become one of the most famous Volksfeste in Saarland. 41 years of tradition is a remarkable run.

Three Days of August Programme

The festival weekend runs from Friday evening to Sunday evening, non-stop, with a packed programme:

• Friday starts with the official opening, traditionally under the patronage of the Saarland Minister-President (most recently Anke Rehlinger). Afterwards, live music with cover bands like Crazy.
• Saturday is the main festival day: the festival grounds fill up from the late afternoon, and in the evening, the band Elliot performs (chart hits from the last three decades – 80s, 90s, disco classics).
• Sunday begins with the classic morning pint concert by the Musikverein Harmonie Schiffweiler starting at 11 am. In the afternoon, a children's programme at Bank1 Saar, and in the evening, a performance by the acoustic formation 12Saiter (Volker Hassler).

Partnership with Greifenburg

A special feature of the festival is its close connection with the Austrian partner community of Greifenburg in Carinthia. A delegation from Greifenburg is traditionally a guest – complete with traditional costumes, musicians, and a selection of Austrian specialities. This internationality gives the Dorffest its special character.

Culinary Saarland

The catering is consistently regional: Schwenker (grilled meat), Lyoner-Pfanne (pan-fried Lyoner sausage), Bratwurst (grilled sausage), fries, alongside the full spectrum of Saarland Volksfest classics. Draft beer from Saarland breweries, regional wine and mixed drinks (Schoppen), plus the Austrian specialities from Greifenburg.

Community Driven

Behind the success is a broad spectrum of clubs and associations: Musikverein Harmonie, sports clubs, the fire brigade, carnival societies – all actively contribute to the festival. This anchoring in the community distinguishes the Schiffweiler Dorffest from commercialised Volksfest formats and constitutes its special charm.