Hallesches Laternenfest

Halle celebrates itself on the Saale

The Hallesches Laternenfest is one of the oldest and largest Volksfests in Central Germany. Its roots date back to 1928, when the people of Halle invented the lantern parade as a small neighborhood festival. Today, it has become a major three-day event that traditionally transforms the city between Peißnitzinsel, Ziegelwiese, and Riveufer into one long festival corridor on the last weekend of August.

In 2025, around 200,000 visitors flocked to Halle — the highest number of visitors in 35 years. A comparable turnout is expected for 2026. The City of Halle organizes the festival with the Event Management Team in cooperation with clubs, boat clubs, and local artists.

The Boat Parades — the Iconic Image

The highlight is the two boat parades on Saturday. During the "Kunterbunt" (Colorful) Parade in the afternoon (approx. 3 PM), a colorful fleet of festival float-boats chugs along the Saale — decorated, costumed, often satirical. During the "Leuchtende Boote" (Illuminated Boats) Parade in the evening (approx. 8:30 PM), the actual symbol of the festival takes place: boats float down the Saale in a choreography of lights, LEDs, and lanterns. The bridges are crowded, the banks are packed, the atmosphere is unique.

Jousting, Duck Races, Stages

In addition, there is the traditional Fischerstechen (jousting), where two opponents in flat-bottomed boats try to push each other into the water with a pole. The duck race with hundreds of yellow plastic ducks on the Saale is both a charity event and public entertainment. Several stages with regional and national acts are located on Peißnitzinsel and Ziegelwiese.

Halle (Saale) — Saxony-Anhalt's Largest City

With around 240,000 inhabitants, Halle is the largest city in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. This independent city is located on the Saale river on the edge of the Saalekreis district and is easily accessible via ICE high-speed train connections from Berlin, Leipzig, Frankfurt, and Munich. The Saale floodplain with Peißnitzinsel, Ziegelwiese, and Riveufer forms a natural festival space right in the city center.