Fest der Nationen Wahlstedt

Wahlstedt — City with 875 Years of History

Wahlstedt is located in the Segeberg district in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, just under 60 km northeast of Hamburg. The city was first mentioned in a document in 1150 and will celebrate its 875th city anniversary in 2026. In this anniversary year, the Fest der Nationen plays a special role — as the main city festival and as a commitment to the cultural diversity of a city with a long history.

Lions Club Wahlstedt — The Organizer

The organizer is the Lions Club Wahlstedt — a service club that has been organizing the Fest der Nationen for over two decades (the 2024 edition was the 26th). The club's motto shapes the festival: "We live together – We work together – We celebrate together". All proceeds are used for local social, cultural, and educational projects — including the "Klasse 2000" program at the Helen Keller School.

Program: Folklore, Market of Cultures, Tombola

Over the years, the festival has established itself as an intercultural Volksfest. Program elements:

• Street Parade — Floats, traditional costume groups, clubs, international groups march through the city center
• Stage Program — Folklore performances, breakdance, ballet, live bands from various cultural circles
• Market of Cultures — Stalls from all over the world with handicrafts, textiles, specialties
• Children's Play Mile — Dedicated area with play stations, bouncy castles, face painting
• Grand Tombola — With thousands of tickets, proceeds for social projects
• Culinary Offerings — International dishes from around the world, wine, beer, coffee, cake, grilled specialties
• Grand Fireworks Display to conclude the festival in the evening

Market of Cultures — The Centerpiece

The Market of Cultures is the programmatic heart of the festival. Stalls from the various cultural circles represented in Wahlstedt present their homelands: Russian, Turkish, Polish, Syrian, Vietnamese, African, and other stalls stand side by side. Handicrafts, traditional clothing, and especially culinary specialties — from Pierogi to Wat, from Adana Kebab to Pho — make the market a culinary world tour in the middle of Schleswig-Holstein.

City Anniversary 2026 — Additional Boost

The city anniversary "875 Years of Wahlstedt" particularly enhances the Fest der Nationen in 2026. Accompanying the festival, other anniversary events are also planned, including the Medieval Festival on July 4th, 2026, at the Schützenplatz, and the Children's Festival on August 15th, 2026, on the market square — a packed city anniversary program between early and high summer.