Neptunfest Calbe (Saale)

Neptune Festival at the Swimming Pool

The Neptunfest Calbe (Saale) is one of those swimming pool festivals that have become a summer tradition in many East German towns – but are rarely implemented as convincingly as here. The organiser is the City of Calbe in cooperation with the Heger swimming pool and local partners, supported by the federal programme "Demokratie leben!” (Democracy Live!).

The programme is pure family fun. At its heart is the Neptune baptism – a ritual in which the mythological sea god Neptune symbolically welcomes younger guests into his realm. Pre-registration is possible, but spontaneous participation is just as welcome. Around this: face painting for children, inflatable castles, water games, lilo races – and the swimming pool itself, which naturally serves as a stage for the day.

The ticket model is special: Children and young people under 18 get free admission – and also receive free lunch and ice cream. This makes the festival a concrete contribution to social participation in Calbe, where not all families can easily afford swimming pool visits.

Calbe (Saale) is a town in the Salzlandkreis district, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, located directly on the Saale river. It is small, but tradition-conscious – the Neptunfest is part of this identity.