Schmöllner Marktfest with Maypole Raising

May Festival on the Eve of May 1st

The Schmöllner Marktfest on April 25, 2026, is one of the most traditional spring town festivals in Eastern Thuringia. On the central market square of the town in the Altenburger Land district, customs, encounters, and convivial togetherness are combined on a single day. Central to this is the Maypole tradition — an old Central German custom with which rural and small-town Saxony-Thuringia celebrates the arrival of spring.

Maypole Raising by the Fire Department

The traditional highlight in the afternoon is the Maypole raising by the Schmölln fire department. Using a crane, ropes, and skillful maneuvering, the firefighters erect the decorated birch pole — accompanied musically by a brass choir or a wind band. Raising the Maypole has been an integral part of the Schmöllner Marktfest for many years and ensures a full town center every year.

Button Princess and Button Cake — Schmölln's Identity

The Button Princess Constanze I. — civilian name Constanze Hunger — has represented the town of Schmölln since 2014. She is more than just a ceremonial office: she embodies the town's mother-of-pearl button history. For centuries, Schmölln was the center of German mother-of-pearl button production (today the town bears the nickname "Button Town"). At the folk festival, the Button Princess cuts the Button Cake — a locally baked sweet pastry in the shape of a button — and distributes pieces to the festival guests. She also helps with decorating the Maypole with children, an activity that raises awareness of the town's tradition among the youngest.

Cheerleaders, Live Band, and Family Program

Cheerleader groups perform on the festival stage, complemented by performances from regional music groups, and in the evening, a live band (cover/dance music) carries the festival late into the night. For children, there are pony rides, a classic carousel, and a prize stall. Food stalls offer sausages, fries, sweet treats, and drinks.

Schmölln in the Altenburger Land

Schmölln, with its approximately 10,000 inhabitants, is located in the state of Thuringia, in the Altenburger Land district, in the Sprendlinger Basin between Altenburg and Crimmitschau. The town is closely connected to Altenburg (Skat capital, residential palace) and is within the catchment area of Leipzig/Gera. The market festival fits into the series of traditional town festivals in the region — a homage to customs and the button industry that shaped Schmölln until the 20th century.