Falkenstein Scything Championship Meisdorf

When the Scythe Sings

In May, the meadow by the former outdoor swimming pool in Meisdorf regularly attracts hundreds of spectators. The reason: The Meisdorf Local Heritage Association has been hosting the Falkenstein Scything Championship here since 2008 — a competition in scythe mowing that is now unique in this form throughout Saxony-Anhalt. Originally conceived as a threshing day, the festival quickly switched to a scything competition because the old threshing machines couldn't withstand the spectacle. Today, the event is a traditional meeting point for everyone who wants to see old farming crafts in action.

The Competition

Mowing takes place on meadow plots of 11.3 by 2 meters — 24 square meters per person, using only muscle power and a scythe. Four experienced judges evaluate speed and quality: whoever mows faster and cleaner than the rest wins. There are individual and team rankings, for men and women. The age range extends from young participants to an 81-year-old mower — the scythe knows no age. In 2025, Renate Bischof (Meisdorf) won among the women and Manfred Ketzer (Pansfelde) among the men.

More Than a Competition

A classic village festival has developed around it: The Meisdorf Brass Band and the Opperode Men's Choir provide musical accompaniment, a flea market attracts visitors from all over the Vorharz region, food and drink stalls cater to guests, and old tractors and agricultural machinery are exhibited. The event traditionally begins on Saturday at 2 p.m. and lasts into the evening.

Meisdorf, Falkenstein/Harz, Harz District

Meisdorf is now a district of the town of Falkenstein/Harz, a sprawling municipality in the Harz district, formed in 2002 from several villages. The Scything Championship was founded against the backdrop of this merger — as a means to socially integrate the new districts. Today, almost 20 years later, it has become a traditional festival that also attracts attention from outside the state of Saxony-Anhalt.