Dorffest Löschgruppe Winkeln

Fire Brigade and Village Festival — A Sauerland Tradition

The Dorffest of the Winkeln fire brigade unit is one of the annual pillars of club life in the Winkeln district of Schalksmühle. The organizer is the Winkeln fire brigade unit of the Schalksmühle Volunteer Fire Department — the active members are present not only at the scene of operations but also in the social life of the village. The proceeds from the festival go towards club activities and ensure the procurement of equipment beyond the mandatory tasks.

Saturday, May 23 — Grill, Cocktail Bar, Bouncy Castle, Blaulichtparty

The festival Saturday begins at 3:00 PM with the classic village festival program: Grill specialties, freshly baked waffles, a cocktail bar, a bouncy castle for the little ones, and a shooting gallery for the older ones. The highlight, starting at 8:00 PM, is the Blaulichtparty — a DJ spins pop, Schlager, and party hits, and the festival tent fills with dancing guests from Winkeln, Schalksmühle, and the neighboring towns of Halver, Hülscheid, and Lüdenscheid. A shuttle service from 11:30 PM ensures guests get home safely to the surrounding villages.

Sunday, May 24 — Frühschoppen, Concert, Vehicle Display

Sunday starts more calmly at 11:00 AM: Frühschoppen with a concert — usually performed by a local music club or a marching band from the Märkischer Kreis. Simultaneously, there will be a fire department vehicle display by the Schalksmühle fire department: fire engines, water tenders, possibly a turntable ladder — children can sit in the driver's cab, and adults can learn about volunteer fire department work. Lunch from the "Gulaschkanone" (field kitchen) and coffee/cake round off the program.

Winkeln and Schalksmühle in the Märkischer Kreis

Schalksmühle is a municipality in the Märkischer Kreis (Sauerland) with about 10,000 inhabitants. The Winkeln district is located in the south of the municipality and has an active village community where the Volunteer Fire Department has played a central role for decades — both in terms of safety and club life. The region between Halver, Hülscheid, and Lüdenscheid is classic Sauerland: hilly landscape, medium-sized industry (wire drawing, stamping technology), compact villages with lively club activities.