Name: Ilberstedt Village Festival with Bathtub Parade 2026
Start: 2026-07-01T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-07-01T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Sportplatz Ilberstedt

Ilberstedt Village Festival

About Ilberstedt Village Festival

The Ilberstedt Village Festival is one of the most original village festivals in the Salzlandkreis: the highlight is the famous bathtub parade on the Wipper – imaginatively decorated bathtubs become boats and sail through the village. Plus a children's carousel, live music, laser show, and the Bebitz Brass Orchestra at the Mühlstraße sports field.

Dates 01 Jul — 01 Jul 2026

Venue Ilberstedt (15089)

Prices Free

Status —

Edition 2026

Ilberstedt Village Festival — edition 2026

The 2026 Village Festival will take place on a summer weekend as usual. The exact date (usually July or August) will be announced by the organizer in Spring 2026.

The date will follow the pattern of previous years: in 2024, the festival was on July 28th, and in 2025 on August 2nd. For 2026, a weekend between July and August is expected. The bathtub parade remains the highlight.

Highlights Ilberstedt Village Festival 2026

Bathtub parade on the Wipper, Bebitz Brass Orchestra, children's activities, laser show

Programme Ilberstedt Village Festival 2026

Program as usual

10:00 AM — Bathtub Parade on the Wipper (start in the village, finish at the sports field)
10:30 AM — Morning pint with the Bebitz Brass Orchestra at the sports field
11:00 AM — Award ceremony for the bathtub parade
12:00 PM — Lunch, climbing pole for children
Afternoon — Children's carousel, craft activities, coffee and cake
Evening — Live music and Laser Show
1:30 PM — Closing serenade with the Bebitz Brass Orchestra (on a second day, if it's a festival weekend)

The exact date and schedule will follow on the event page of the Bernburg-Erleben platform.

Prices Ilberstedt Village Festival 2026

Free admission

Practical information

Practical information — Ilberstedt Village Festival

Getting There

Ilberstedt is located between Aschersleben (10 km) and Bernburg (15 km) on the B6. By car via the A14, exit Plötzkau, then head to Ilberstedt. By train to Aschersleben or Bernburg, then take a bus or taxi.

Admission

Free admission. Food and drinks are available for purchase on site.

Notes

Anyone wishing to participate in the parade with their own bathtub should register with the organizer in advance. Seaworthiness and safety will be checked; life jackets are mandatory.

When the Village Floats

In the state of Saxony-Anhalt, in the Salzlandkreis, lies the village of Ilberstedt – a small community on the Wipper river, nestled between Aschersleben and Bernburg. What makes Ilberstedt an insider tip every year: the Village Festival with Bathtub Parade. A tradition that has been celebrated for over 40 years, transforming the village into a small water parade for one summer day.

The Bathtub Parade

The concept is ingeniously simple: clubs, families, and groups of friends convert old bathtubs into seaworthy competition vehicles. With flotation devices under the tub, themed decorations on top – pirate ship, submarine, Saturn mission, local commentary – the boats are launched into the Wipper. A jury awards prizes for the most creative constructions, and the audience on the bank celebrates. The competition starts in the morning; a foam cannon bath is optional.

Program at the Sports Field

While the bathtubs drift downstream, the village festival takes place at the Mühlstraße 8 sports field with a classic mix: children's carousel, Bebitz Brass Orchestra in the morning, bratwurst and shashlik stands, live music in the evening, laser show, and celebrating together late into the night. The Ilberstedt Village Festival has been established since the 1980s; the 41st edition was celebrated in 2024, the 42nd in 2025.