34th Neuruppin May and Harbour Festival
Three days of Volksfest on the promenade of Lake Ruppin with dragon boat races and fireworks
2026
About May and Harbour Festival Neuruppin
May and Harbour Festival Neuruppin — edition 2026
From Friday, May 1st to Sunday, May 3rd, 2026, the promenade of Lake Ruppin transforms into the largest spring festival in the March – the 34th Neuruppin May and Harbour Festival. The format from the previous year remains: Opening on the May 1st public holiday by Mayor Nico Ruhle, fireworks over the lake in the evening.
Saturday is dedicated to the traditional dragon boat races on the lake (heats from 10 AM to 12 PM, finals from 1 PM to 5 PM), and Antenne Brandenburg provides 70s and 80s sounds for the evening with its Party Tour. Sunday is Family Day with free admission – the highlight is the 5th Neuruppin Duck Race, where thousands of yellow rubber ducks float for a charity race.
Highlights May and Harbour Festival Neuruppin 2026
- 34th edition as Neuruppin's second-largest city festival
- Fireworks Friday at 10 PM over Lake Ruppin
- Dragon boat races on Saturday
- Antenne Party Tour with 70s/80s hits
- 5th Neuruppin Duck Race on Sunday
- Free admission on Sunday – Family Day
Programme May and Harbour Festival Neuruppin 2026
Friday, 01.05.2026
- Official opening by Mayor Nico Ruhle
- Live music on the main stage
- 10 PM: Grand fireworks over the lake
Saturday, 02.05.2026
- Dragon Boat Race: Heats 10 AM–12 PM, Finals 1 PM–5 PM
- Antenne Party Tour: 70s/80s hits
- Strolling mile, showmen
Sunday, 03.05.2026 (Family Day, Free Admission)
- 5th Neuruppin Duck Race
- Children's and family programme
- Morning pint
Prices May and Harbour Festival Neuruppin 2026
Practical information — May and Harbour Festival Neuruppin
Getting There
By car via the A24 (exit Neuruppin) — about 70 km northwest of Berlin. By train with the RE6 from Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Neuruppin Rheinsberger Tor (approx. 1 hour). A 10-minute walk from the station to the lake promenade.
Tickets
Day ticket €5 per person (Friday/Saturday). Children under 12 free. Sunday free admission for everyone. Tickets at the ticket offices along the lake promenade.
Rules
Dogs, glass bottles, own food and drinks are not allowed on the festival grounds. Catering provided by on-site stands.
Fontane City Celebrates on Lake Ruppin
Neuruppin is the birthplace of Theodor Fontane and the district town of Ostprignitz-Ruppin. With its neoclassical old town and the 14 km long shore promenade of Lake Ruppin, it is one of the most beautiful small towns in the northern March of Brandenburg.
The May and Harbour Festival is, after the traditional Martinimarkt in November, the second-largest city festival in the town and has been a firm fixture in Brandenburg's event calendar since 1993. In 2026, the 34th edition will take place from May 1st to 3rd along the entire lake promenade.
Day by Day — Programme 2026
Friday, 01.05.2026 — Opening & Fireworks
- Official opening by Mayor Nico Ruhle
- Live music on the main stage by the lake
- Grand fireworks at 10 PM over Lake Ruppin
Saturday, 02.05.2026 — Dragon Boats & Antenne Party
- Dragon Boat Race: Heats 10 AM–12 PM, Final race 1 PM–5 PM
- Stage show Antenne Party Tour with 70s and 80s hits
- Strolling mile along the lake promenade with showmen
- Dancing and live music into the night
Sunday, 03.05.2026 — Family Day
- Free admission for everyone
- 5th Neuruppin Duck Race: thousands of yellow plastic ducks float from the harbour to the lake promenade
- Children's programme, carousels, interactive activities
- Morning pint and family concerts
What You Should Know
The May and Harbour Festival has strict house rules that visitors should observe:
- Admission: €5 per day (Friday and Saturday). Children under 12 free. Sunday free admission generally.
- No dogs on the festival grounds
- No outside food or drinks
- No glass (all drinks are served in reusable cups)
Location and Atmosphere
The venue is the entire promenade of Lake Ruppin — from the Bollwerk in the town centre to the lido, stretching for several hundred metres. The festival grounds will be completely fenced off, with entrances at several points along the promenade. In good weather, the festival attracts thousands of visitors from Berlin, Wittenberge, and the entire Ruppiner Seenland region.
Where it takes place May and Harbour Festival Neuruppin
May and Harbour Festival Neuruppin at a glance
History of May and Harbour Festival Neuruppin
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