Folk for Friends — Celtic Open Air & 9. Steinheimer Highland Games

Steinheim — Small Town in the Hochstift Paderborn

Steinheim is a small town with around 12,000 inhabitants in the Höxter district (Detmold administrative region), located in the Oberweser-Bergland region between Höxter and Detmold. Historically rooted in the Hochstift Paderborn, with a pretty old town and active club life, the town is known as a cultural hub more among insiders. One of the most remarkable cultural initiatives is the Junge Kultur Steinheim e.V. association, which has been organizing the Folk-for-Friends series since the 1990s.

From Indoor Concert to Highland Games

The history of Folk for Friends is one of organic development: in 1994, the initiators started as an indoor concert series featuring Celtic folk music in Steinheim's halls. In 2008, the format was moved outdoors — an open-air festival was born. Then, in 2010, came the decisive idea: combining it with Highland Games, those Scottish strength sports competitions involving caber toss, stone lift, and tug-of-war. This combination evolved into the format established today: Celtic Open Air Festival plus Steinheimer Highland Games on a Saturday in August.

2026 Program: Four Bands, One Highland Competition

The 9th edition of the Highland Games will take place on August 29, 2026. Four bands are confirmed: Dánacht (German band with Irish folk and Celtic energy), Folks Sake (Folk-pop crossover), The Keltics (German band with classic Celtic folk), and Pride of Scotland Pipes & Drums (pipe band with a bagpipe power program). The Highland Games run in parallel — teams of 5-7 male or female highlanders register to compete in the classic disciplines: Caber Toss, Stone Put, Sheaf Toss, Tug-of-War.

Scottish Village, Whisky, and Guinness

A "Scottish village" will be set up on the festival grounds with stalls selling Scottish specialties and crafts — tartan fabrics, Sgian Dubh (small knives), sporrans, whisky reflections, and more. A whisky bar with a tasting offer invites you to sample, and Guinness and Kilkenny — the two classic Irish beers that are a must at every Celtic festival — flow from the taps. Those who come dressed in Scottish or Celtic attire will be welcomed with goodwill — many regulars wear kilts.

Junge Kultur Steinheim e.V.

Behind the festival is the Junge Kultur Steinheim e.V. association, which has been organizing concerts, festivals, and cultural events in the town on a voluntary basis for over 30 years. Folk for Friends is its most important and visible format — an example of successful long-term voluntary cultural development in a rural small town.

Getting to Steinheim

By car via the B 252 (Paderborn-Höxter) or the B 64; about 35 kilometers from Paderborn. By train: Steinheim station on the Paderborn-Altenbeken-Holzminden-Kreiensen line (RE 11 and RB 84); about a 10-minute walk from the station to the festival grounds. Around 45 minutes by train from Paderborn.