Markranstädter Kinderfest

1846 — The Birth

On September 27, 1846, at the suggestion of choirmaster and schoolmaster Gottfried Glanz, in agreement with Mayor Rottmann and village pastor Weißbach, the first Markranstädter Kinderfest took place on the Winnenwiese. What began as a small school festival quickly grew into the cultural identity of the city — and survived even the most difficult times.

180 Years of History, 150 Editions

During the war and post-war years (1866, 1870, 1915–1920, 1940–1945), the festival had to be canceled, and from 1976 it even disappeared completely from the local calendar. It was only in 1992 that dedicated citizens brought the tradition back, giving the festival the motto «We Want to Be Children». Since 1904, the artfully decorated floats have been an integral part of the parade — they make the Markranstädter Kinderfest one of the most beautiful local festivals in the region.

Festival Week Under the Motto «Heroes»

The 150th Children's Festival in 2026 is under the motto «Heroes» — an invitation to children and adults to engage with role models, courage, and community. Five festival days will feature sports competitions, cultural events, children's concerts, hands-on activities, and a grand finale fireworks display. Traditionally, the highlight is the parade on Sunday with decorated floats, which leads through the entire city center.

Community Festival in the Leipzig District

Markranstädt is located about 15 kilometers west of Leipzig in the Leipzig district and is quickly accessible via the A38 motorway. The Children's Festival is considered the social highlight of the year — many former residents of Markranstädt return especially for the festival week. Since its revival in 1992, the organizer has been the Markranstädter Kinderfestverein e.V., which works exclusively on a voluntary basis.