Parish Festival St. Aloysius Herdorf

The Parish Festival of St. Aloysius Herdorf parish is a firmly established tradition in the event calendar of the mining town in the Altenkirchen district. It is organised annually by the parish council in cooperation with the many groups and associations of the parish: altar servers, scouts, kindergarten, seniors, church choir, and volunteers each contribute programme items or catering stations.

Spiritual and convivial

The festival has a distinct religious core – after all, it is a parish festival. A festive church service on Sunday morning marks the spiritual start of the main festival day. Afterwards, the event seamlessly transitions into the social part: morning pint, lunch, coffee and cake, and a broadly based supporting programme characterise the course of Sunday until the early evening.

Catering by the parish

A characteristic feature of the parish festival is the exclusively voluntary catering. The parish groups take care of the barbecue station, salads, coffee, and a diverse cake buffet, traditionally made from homemade donations. Net proceeds go to the parish's social work and support for youth work.

Programme for all ages

For families, there is a varied children's programme with games, craft activities, and occasionally a bouncy castle. The church choir and music associations from the surrounding area provide the musical accompaniment. Saturday evening, with its festive opening, is usually dedicated to a more informal get-together with live or background music.

Place of encounter

Beyond its religious dimension, the parish festival fulfils an important social role: it brings together generations, neighbours, and volunteers, creates spaces for encounters, and makes the vibrant parish community of Herdorf visible.