Eulenturmfest Wegeleben

Wegeleben — small town with great tradition

Wegeleben is located in the Harz district, on the Bode river, about 15 km north of Halberstadt. The small town with its approximately 3,000 inhabitants was a small fortification with a town wall and several gates in the Middle Ages. The Eulenturm remains — once the crowning glory of the Quedlinburg Gate, one of the former town gates. After long neglect, the tower was renovated in 1989 and stands today as a symbol of the town.

For about 2004, the town has dedicated its own local festival to this very tower. The Eulenturmfest is organized by the local heritage association and brings together the Wegeleben clubs — sports club, volunteer fire department, kindergarten choir, singing club. It is one of those small, almost handmade festivals that have survived in the Vorharz villages and carry on the club life beyond the GDR era.

Bodespatzen, Spielmannszug, Senior Dance

The program has followed a similar rhythm for 20 years. The Bodespatzen — the children's choir of the local kindergarten, named after the Bode river that flows through Wegeleben — often kick things off. This is followed by the Spielmannszug Harsleben from the neighboring village, then various singing and dance ensembles from the Vorharz region. A senior dance group has been part of the program for years, and the volunteer fire department also presents itself. In the evening, the festival turns into a dance event with catering that lasts late into the night.

Small, but lively

The Eulenturmfest is not a major tourist event. It is a festival that primarily reaches the people of Wegeleben and their neighbors from the Vorharz region. Those looking for authentic Saxony-Anhalt — away from the World Heritage sites of Quedlinburg, Wernigerode, and Halberstadt — will find a piece of everyday culture here. Quedlinburg is a 15-minute drive away, so a visit to the festival can be easily combined with a World Heritage day.