32nd Heimatfest Erkner

Erkner — Watersports Town on the Outskirts of Berlin

Erkner is a small town in the Oder-Spree district, located directly east of Berlin — the S-Bahn line S3 terminates here. With the Dämeritzsee, the Flakensee, and the connection to the Müggelspree, Erkner is considered the "gateway to Berlin's watersports area". The writer Gerhart Hauptmann spent years of his life here — the Gerhart-Hauptmann-Museum commemorates the town's literary history. The piano maker Carl Bechstein (1826–1900) also maintained a summer residence in Erkner, which forms a special program focus of the Heimatfest in 2026 — for Bechstein's 200th birthday.

32 Years of Tradition

The Heimatfest Erkner has been organized by the event company Laubinger Event GmbH on behalf of the city since the 1990s. In 2026, the 32nd edition will take place from May 29th to 31st in the Rathauspark (Friedrichstraße 6-8). Free admission for all three days.

2026 Programme

The festival calendar is spread over three days:

• Friday, May 29th (3 PM–11 PM): Opening. 7:30 PM concert "Erkneraner Partynacht" with the band Right Now.
• Saturday, May 30th (10 AM–12 AM): Landing of "Fischer Hans" on the Dämeritzsee (11:30 AM), welcome by the mayor and cutting of the birthday cake (12:00 PM), program by local clubs, café in the town hall. 7:30 PM concert "Die Schöne Party" with DJ DR. M.
• Sunday, May 31st (10 AM–8 PM): Children's program (from 11 AM), award ceremony for the painting and drawing competition (1:30 PM), concert "Rock'n'Roll-Sound" with The Clogs (3:30 PM).

Steamer Trips — The Nostalgic Highlight

The historic steamer trips have been the most popular attraction of the Heimatfest for years — and are returning in 2026 after a multi-year break. The two-hour tour starts at the Erkner pier on the Dämeritzsee, leads across the Müggelspree to the Müggelsee and back. The tour guide is Erkner historian Frank Retzlaff, who brings the local, industrial, and shipping history of the Berlin waterway to life with anecdotes. Tickets: €10 per person. Tickets are available in advance (Gerhart-Hauptmann-Museum, Stadtbibliothek, Kreismuseum, Gemeinschaftshaus) and usually sell out within a few days.

200 Years of Carl Bechstein

2026 marks the 200th birthday of piano maker Carl Bechstein (1826–1900). Bechstein, who had a summer residence in Erkner, shaped the Berlin and international music scene of the late 19th century with his piano factory — Liszt, Wagner, and Bülow played Bechstein grand pianos. The 2026 Heimatfest year dedicates its own cultural focus to this anniversary with lectures, piano concerts, and themed tours.

Accompanying Program and Travel

The festival grounds feature culinary stalls, exhibition and sales stands from local schools with coffee and cake, a market, and a historic café area with costumed performers. Erkner is reachable in 35 minutes by S-Bahn line S3 from Berlin Hbf — the terminus S Erkner is about a 5-minute walk from the Rathauspark.