Rolandsfest Nordhausen

Nordhausen — Roland City on the Southern Harz

Nordhausen is the district capital of the district of the same name in the north of Thuringia and lies on the southern edge of the Harz mountains. With around 41,000 inhabitants, it is the economic and cultural center of Northern Thuringia. The city was first mentioned in a document on May 13, 927, when King Heinrich I issued a deed of gift for his wife Mathilde in Quedlinburg. This founding charter is the occasion for the annual Rolandsfest — the largest folk festival in all of Northern Thuringia.

From Local Festival to Major Event

The roots of the festival date back to 1934, when the Nordhausen Local Festival (Heimatfest) first took place. After World War II, it was revived in its current form in 1955 — the specially composed Roland song was heard for the first time then. Since then, the Roland group — consisting of the Nordhäuser Roland (symbol of civic freedom rights), the Brockenhexe (connection to the Harz), the Professor Zwanziger (legendary Nordhausen original), and the Alter Ebersberg (mythical figure) — has shaped the festival. Every five years, a large festival parade with clubs, businesses, and schools marches through the city center.

Four Stages, 150 Hours of Music, a Beer Village

The Rolandsfest spans four central venues: Market Square, Rathausplatz, Theaterplatz, and Petersbergplatz. Over 150 hours of live music of all genres — from rock and pop to Schlager and folk music — create the atmosphere over three festival days. A gardeners' market presents regional products, the Irish pub village brings a flair untypical for Nordhausen to the Wipper river, and on August-Bebel-Platz, a Ferris wheel turns between bumper cars, carousels, and amusement rides. Over 70 stalls with food, drinks, and crafts line the festival mile.

For Families and Generations

The children's festival in the Promenade is a world of its own for the youngest visitors, with hands-on activities, craft offerings, and performances. The 'Festival of Generations' on Petersberg and the children's flea market on Sunday complete the family-friendly profile. Sporting highlight: the beach volleyball tournament for the Stadtwerke Cup. In 2026, the Nordhausen Municipal Housing Company (SWG) will also celebrate its 75th anniversary — with a grand morning pint on Saturday on Petersbergplatz, where the band Juli will present their hits, and a medieval fire show in the evening.

Folk Festival with Identity

What distinguishes the Rolandsfest from other city festivals is its close connection to the city's history. While other folk festivals may seem interchangeable, Nordhausen has created a distinctive landmark with its Roland group. The Nordhäuser Roland, like in many North German Hanseatic cities, symbolically represents civic self-government and market rights. In the Nordhausen district and throughout Northern Thuringia, the Rolandsfest is the most important summer event.