26. Handballfest Auma — Pentecost Tournament

Sports Club as Festival Organizer

The Handballfest Auma — Pfingstturnier is a classic example of a club-driven town festival that grew out of a sports tournament. The Handballverein Auma (Auma Handball Club) organizes a handball tournament every year at Pentecost and combines it with a two-day Volksfest. In 2026, the 26th edition will take place on Saturday, May 23rd, and Sunday, May 24th.

Dance Evening on Saturday, Family Afternoon on Sunday

On Saturday evening, there's a dance event — live band or DJ set, beer service, currywurst, and all the charm of a club-run summer festival in the East Thuringian valley. On Sunday, a colorful family afternoon with a children's program follows: bouncy castle, games course, small sports stations for the youngest guests, cake and coffee, plus the handball tournament as the sporting backdrop. Parents and grandparents meet in the stands, while the younger generation cheers for Auma during the matches.

Sports and Tradition Combined

What makes the Handballfest special is the combination of enthusiasm for sports and a convivial Volksfest atmosphere. The Pentecost tournament is taken seriously from a sporting perspective — clubs from East Thuringia and Saxony come to Auma — while at the same time, the festival opens up to the entire town. This symbiosis of club, tradition, and town life has shaped Whit Monday in Auma-Weidatal for decades.

Auma-Weidatal in the Greiz District

The town of Auma-Weidatal is located in the Weida valley in the Landkreis Greiz (state of Thuringia). With just under 3,500 inhabitants, it's a typical small East Thuringian town with active club life — shooting clubs, carnival clubs, sports clubs, and citizens' initiatives ensure a packed festival calendar year. Travel: A4 exit Ronneburg, then B92/B175.