Heidjerfest Leherheide

Tradition returns to Leherheide

The Heidjerfest has a long history in Bremerhaven-Leherheide: From 1962 to 2000, the residents of the district paraded with hundreds of people and floats through their neighborhood for the big parade – then the festival lay dormant for 24 years. In 2022, a young group founded the Heidjer Butjer e.V. cultural association and brought the cult back in 2023. Since then, the district in the north of Bremerhaven has been celebrating again over several days, reviving a festival culture that many remember from their childhood.

From the Heidjerkrone to the Grand Parade

The program spans several days. The binding of the Heidjerkrone marks the start, followed by a lantern parade that begins in the evening from the Leherheide weekly market parking lot. On Saturday, a large flea market invites visitors, and in the evening, the election of the queen/king with a DJ, a grand raffle, and a party follows. The highlight is the grand parade on Sunday afternoon: clubs, groups, and marching bands parade on foot and on colorfully decorated floats through Leherheide – traditionally along Mecklenburger Weg – and candies rain down for the children. Afterwards, the festival concludes with a family program.

• Opening: Binding of the Heidjerkrone, lantern parade
• Saturday: large flea market, election of queen/king with party and raffle
• Sunday: grand parade with floats, music, and candy rain
• Location: around the Leherheide weekly market parking lot

Festival for the neighborhood

The Heidjerfest is a true neighborhood festival: it brings neighbors, families, and clubs together and strengthens cohesion in Leherheide, a district in the north of the seaside city of Bremerhaven in the state of Bremen. The venue is the area around the weekly market parking lot, which transforms into a lively festival mile for the duration of the event.

Living neighborhood culture

With the revival of the Heidjerfest, Leherheide demonstrates how volunteer engagement can bring a nearly forgotten tradition back to life. The festival is once again a firm fixture in Bremerhaven's autumn event calendar and a flagship for the district – driven by people who mobilize their neighborhood.