Erntefest Vehlen

Three-Day Festival with Tradition

The Vehlen Erntefest is a staple in the Schaumburg festival calendar. It has been organized for many years by the Dorfjugend Vehlen, who manage the entire program independently: stage setup, festival tent, catering, volunteer services, and wagon construction are all handled by the youth with great discipline and enthusiasm. This makes the Erntefest an identity-building event for the village.

Parade with Around 32 Wagons

The highlight of the festival weekend is the grand Erntefest parade on Sunday. Around 32 elaborately decorated wagons – each dedicated to a theme, a historical scene, or a satirical figure – move through the village, accompanied by brass bands, drum corps, tractor convoys, and walking groups. Wagon construction takes weeks, with each wagon being a work of art made of straw, flowers, and wood. In parallel, the residents of Vehlen decorate their houses with harvest wreaths.

Dance Evening and Morning Pint

Friday evening opens the festival with a lively dance evening in the festival tent – often featuring a live band from the region. Saturday is dedicated to preparations and a second dance evening, while Sunday brings the morning pint (Frühschoppen), a family program, a coffee reception, and an evening wind-down after the parade. Food stalls, bratwurst, fries, and a beer garden are available throughout the weekend.

Vehlen in the Schaumburg Region

Vehlen, a district of the mountain town Obernkirchen, is located in the south of the Schaumburg district at the foot of the Bückeberge hills. The village is known for its intact community spirit, its own microbrewery, and its historic mill. The Erntefest is the social highlight of the year, bringing together not only locals but also guests from Rinteln, Stadthagen, Bückeburg, and the wider Schaumburg-Hannover region.