Kartoffelfest Neuenkirchen

A harvest festival in honour of the potato

The Kartoffelfest Neuenkirchen is a tradition-steeped harvest festival held every year on the third September weekend in the heath community of Neuenkirchen. The organiser is Heide-Touristik Neuenkirchen, based in the historic Schröers-Hof at Kirchstraße 9. The festival recalls the importance of the potato as a staple food in the once barren heath landscape and at the same time celebrates the versatility of the tuber in regional cuisine.

Specialities and culinary pleasures

The culinary stalls form the heart of the festival. Local restaurateurs, farmers and heath farms (Heidehöfe) serve potato pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer) with apple sauce or herb quark, fried potatoes, potato salad in various versions, potato soup, baked potatoes with sour cream and herbs, boiled potatoes (Pellkartoffeln) with herring salad, potato croquettes, potato rösti and even potato-based desserts. The offering is rounded off with regional beers, apple cider and heath liqueur (Heidelikör).

Coronation of the Potato King

A highlight of the festival is the coronation of the Potato King (Kartoffelkönig). The title is awarded each year to a personality from the community who has rendered outstanding service to the harvest festival. The coronation takes place on the festival stage with a crown woven from potatoes and a brushwood sceptre. The ceremony is performed in public.

Crafts and market stalls

Alongside the speciality stalls, regional craftspeople present their work: ceramics, wood, textiles, honey products, candles and heath flower arrangements. The combination of culinary offering and market turns the Schröers-Hof into a lively meeting place.

Heide-Touristik Neuenkirchen

Heide-Touristik Neuenkirchen, based at the Schröers-Hof, is the community's tourism contact point. It organises not only the Kartoffelfest but a wide range of further events – from the fried potato evening (Bratkartoffelabend) and the Brochdorf barbecue evening to the heath sheep round-up (Schnuckeneintrieb).