Feuerwehr Open House Saarwellingen

The Fire Brigade Festival in Saarwellingen

In the Saarland region, the fire brigade festival is one of those events where the entire village comes together. The Saarwellingen Volunteer Fire Brigade hosts its Open Day on the last weekend of May on the grounds of the fire station at Schloßstraße 31-33 — two days when the firehouse transforms into a festival site, without neglecting its operational duties in the background.

What's Happening

The program follows the tried-and-tested fire brigade festival choreography of the region: tours of the station, where citizens can visit the vehicle hall, the respiratory protection and clothing storage, and the training center; demonstrations of technical assistance — such as cutting open a crashed vehicle with hydraulic rescue equipment; firefighting drills on a training object; a display of the current vehicle fleet and occasionally vintage vehicles from friendly fire brigades. For children, there are test drives in fire trucks, a "Mini Fire Brigade" station with a water spray wall and quiz, and usually a "Frühschoppen" (morning pint) with brass music on Sunday.

Saarwellingen — A Municipality Rich in History

Saarwellingen is located in the Saarlouis district and, with just over 13,000 inhabitants, is one of the larger municipalities in the district. Saarwellingen is primarily known for its exceptionally lively Faasend tradition (Wellinger Faasend, documented since 1624), but also for its dense network of clubs, in which the fire brigade forms a pillar alongside the music club, carnival club, and sports club. Saarwellingen Castle — today a conference venue and registry office — and the well-maintained castle park in the immediate vicinity of the fire station shape the town's appearance.

Character and Atmosphere

Anyone driving into Schloßstraße from Saarbrücken or Saarlouis on a late May evening will find a scene that is hard to be more typical of the Saarland region: beer tent benches set up, a "Schwenkgrill" (swivel grill) with a long queue, children sitting on their fathers' laps in fire brigade uniforms, and above it all, the fire chief's announcement over the loudspeakers. It's not a tourist event — but a club celebration to which the entire community is invited and which the whole of Saarland knows for its fire brigade festivals.

Purpose of Donations

As with many Saarland fire brigade festivals, the proceeds go towards equipment, youth work, and training subsidies for the members. The Saarwellingen Volunteer Fire Brigade is responsible for municipal firefighting and disaster control — a commitment that the festival makes visible.