Festival at the Ferry Strausberg

The Strausseefähre — Brandenburg's Monument of Technology

The Strausseefähre has connected the two shores of the Straussee in Strausberg (Märkisch-Oderland district) since 1894 — a 6-person platform, powered by a 380 V electric motor on an overhead catenary cable. It is the oldest electrically powered passenger ferry in Germany still in operation and has been a monument of technology since 1985. Today, it is operated by Strausberger Eisenbahn GmbH, which also maintains the historic Strausberg railway line.

The Festival: Town by the Lake

The “Fest an der Fähre” is a typical town summer festival in a confined space: stage at the ferry terminal, live music, street food stalls, free ferry rides across the Straussee (weather and frequency permitting), children's program with hands-on activities, occasional fireworks late in the evening. The organizer is Strausberger Eisenbahn GmbH — a municipal company that also promotes the Strausseefähre brand.

Historic Experience in a Summer Evening Atmosphere

Visitors to the festival combine a Volksfest (traditional folk festival) atmosphere with a short, technically historic ride across the lake. The ferry departs approximately every 10 minutes, travels across the almost 250-meter-wide lake for 4 minutes — and is part of a municipal hiking trail from Strausberg-Stadt station via the Straussee to Strausberg-Süd. Strausberg can be reached in 50 minutes from Berlin Ostbahnhof via the S5 line.

Strausberg and the Märkisches Land

Strausberg, the district town of Märkisch-Oderland with almost 26,000 inhabitants, has retained its small-town character. The Fest an der Fähre is an important summer event alongside the spring festival on May 1st and the Strausberg May festival. A classic date for Strausberg residents and day-trippers from Berlin.