Heimat- und Schützenfest Schönewalde

Schönewalde — Small town in the Elbe-Elster region

Schönewalde is located in southern Brandenburg, in the Elbe-Elster district, about 100 kilometers south of Berlin. With its approximately 3,000 inhabitants, Schönewalde is one of the smaller Brandenburg towns — a typical market town with a historic center, surrounded by the largely agricultural landscape of the Schwarze Elster river and the Lower Heath. The Heimat- und Schützenfest at Pentecost is the major social event of the year and an expression of the vibrant club landscape.

Kulturverein Schönewalde — Organiser of the festival

The organiser is the Kulturverein Schönewalde e.V., which, together with the Schützengesellschaft (marksman's association) and many other clubs, puts on the multi-day festival. The festival grounds at the Schützenhaus form the centre of the event — a traditional marksman's lodge site, as many small Brandenburg towns still have. This is where the musical, sporting, and social programme points of the extended weekend converge.

Programme between tradition and Schlager power

The festival begins on Friday with a senior football tournament and the first programme items on the festival grounds. Saturday features a fashion show on the stage, followed by concerts — the Primetime Partyband creates a party atmosphere in the early evening, and later in the evening, Karat, one of the most famous GDR rock legends, performs. Sunday is dedicated to traditional marksman's customs with the public shooting competition in the morning. Tickets are available in advance for 10 euros per evening or as a weekend ticket for 20 euros.

Brandenburg Pentecost tradition

The Pentecost festival in Schönewalde is part of a long Brandenburg tradition, where Heimat- und Schützenfeste are celebrated in many small towns and villages at Pentecost. Anyone travelling in southern Brandenburg should not miss this festival — it shows how marksman traditions, club culture, and modern live music merge into a dense weekend experience in a small town. The natural landscape of the Niederlausitzer Heidelandschaft Nature Park and the historic towns of Herzberg (Elster) and Bad Liebenwerda are only a few kilometers away — ideal for complementing your festival visit with a day in the region.