Marner Stadtfest as part of the Dithmarscher Kohltage

Celebrating Dithmarschen's Cabbage

Dithmarschen, with around 80 square kilometers of cultivation area and over 80 million heads harvested annually, is Germany's largest cabbage-growing region – by far. The region celebrates this agricultural identity every year at the end of September with the Dithmarscher Kohltage, a regional festival that connects various marsh towns with their own events. One of the most important components is the Marner Stadtfest – the large town festival of the district town Marne, with its own profile and long tradition.

Königstraße as Festival Mile

The venue is the Königstraße in Marne's city center, one of Dithmarschen's most beautiful main streets, lined with brick buildings and historic shop facades. During the festival weekend, the street is completely closed off and transformed into a festival mile: Over 100 market stalls are spread along the street, three stages offer parallel programming, plus an extensive gastronomic mile focusing on the region's cabbage specialties.

Krauthobel-Meisterschaft (Cabbage Shredding Championship)

One of the most original attractions is the Krauthobel-Meisterschaft: Participants compete in a speed contest to shred white cabbage. Whoever shreds the most beautiful cabbage fastest wins – a humorous homage to the region's core crop. Alongside this: Shrimp peeling contest, Cabbage Bingo, Brückenturnier (bridge tournament), and Skat tournament. All with the self-understanding of a Volksfest (folk festival) that thrives on tradition.

Three Stages, Music, and Dance

The three stages provide a wide musical variety throughout the festival weekend: Live bands playing cover and original music, dance performances by local schools, appearances by the Marner Shanty Choir, and regional folk bands. The musical program runs from morning until late at night, allowing all generations to find something suitable.

Cabbage Specialties

Marne's restaurants and mobile food stalls serve classic and modern cabbage dishes during the town festival: Classic kale with Kassler (smoked pork) and Pinkel (a type of sausage), sauerkraut in all variations, cabbage rolls, Krautwickerl (small cabbage rolls), alongside creative reinterpretations like cabbage burgers or cabbage smoothies. Shrimp (typical for Dithmarschen, being close to the North Sea coast) and other regional specialties are also plentiful.

Marne, Dithmarschen, and the North Sea Coast

Marne, with just under 6,000 inhabitants and the seat of the Marne-Nordsee office, is located between Heide and the North Sea. It is reachable in 90 minutes from Hamburg via the A23 motorway or the Marschbahn railway. The town is one of the oldest in Dithmarschen and home to various traditional events – the Stadtfest as part of the Kohltage is the most important of these.