Flammender Scharmützelsee

Bad Saarow and the Scharmützelsee

Bad Saarow is a spa town in the Oder-Spree district, located directly on the Scharmützelsee – one of Brandenburg's largest lakes (approx. 12 km²). The town combines spa traditions (Bad Saarow thermal baths, brine baths), exclusive residential areas with lake views (Maxim Gorky Theatre was once located here, prominent residents), and active tourism. The Scharmützelsee, with its clear water, long sandy beaches, and typical Brandenburg forest-water landscape, is one of the most beautiful lakes in the greater Berlin area.

Flammender Scharmützelsee — Brandenburg's Festival of Lights Tradition

Flammender Scharmützelsee is an established Volksfest with a focus on light art and light installations. The official concept requires the organizer to place the theme of light (illumination, light art on the water) at the centre. This thematic focus makes the festival unique – unlike most Volksfeste, it emphasizes an atmospheric, visual quality. Free admission.

2026 Programme — Lights, Stage, Food Trucks

The 2026 programme (September 11th-13th) includes an open-air stage with DJ sets and live bands, food trucks with international specialities, a pirate programme for children, and of course, the nightly light spectacle on the lake. The municipal budget for the event is around €35,000. The organizer was selected through an open tendering process by the Amt Scharmützelsee. Regional players – clubs, restaurants, service providers – are integrated into the festival concept.

Combine with a Weekend by the Lake

Visitors to Flammender Scharmützelsee can combine it with a day by the lake: swimming, stand-up paddling, boat tours with the Bad Saarow shipping company, hiking on the Saarower Höhenweg. Bad Saarow is reachable from Berlin in 1 hour by train (RE1). Accommodation options range from camping and guesthouses to 5-star resorts. The September weekend combines the lingering summer with the beginning of autumn – a typical date for a "Brandenburg Festival of Lights".