Schul- und Heimatfest Seyda

Village Festival with Tradition

The Schul- und Heimatfest Seyda is one of those festivals that are firmly integrated into the local calendar in Saxony-Anhalt. For three days, the Seyda district of the town of Jessen (Elster) in the Wittenberg district transforms into a single festival ground. The concept is classic: it's about the school, the village clubs, the homeland — and about reuniting with everyone who once went to school in Seyda and now lives elsewhere.

From Marching Band to Festival Parade

The festival kicks off on Friday evening with a volleyball tournament on the sports field, a king's shoot by the archers, and an open-air disco. The highlight, however, comes on Saturday: as early as 7 a.m., the Seyda marching band wakes up the town, followed by an extensive morning program. At 2:30 p.m., the grand festival parade from the school to the park starts — with schoolchildren in festive attire, clubs, decorated floats, and traditional costume groups. White doves will be released in the park, the kindergarten program begins, and coffee and cake will be served in the festival tent.

Dancing, Carousels, and Frühschoppen

In the evening, the park belongs to the band RANDOM, which has been providing the music for the dance evening for years. In addition, carousels spin and archery stands are set up. Sunday begins — as it could be otherwise — with renewed wake-up music from the marching band, followed by the festival service and the traditional Frühschoppen (morning pint) with the Seyda brass band. The afternoon is spent with a bouncy castle, bowling, and a final beer with the neighbors.

Seyda in the Wittenberg District

Seyda is located in the far east of Saxony-Anhalt, near the border with Brandenburg. With around 1,500 inhabitants, the district is one of the largest villages in the town of Jessen (Elster). Lutherstadt Wittenberg is about 30 km away — culturally and touristically, the history of the Reformation dominates the entire district. In contrast, the Seyda Heimatfest is deliberately local and village-oriented; touristically inconspicuous, but the most important weekend of the summer for the people of Seyda.

Atmosphere

Anyone who wants to experience an authentic festival from Saxony-Anhalt — with a marching band, a festival parade from the school to the park, and a dance evening until late into the night — is in the right place. The atmosphere is unpretentious, regional, and warm. And on Saturday afternoon, when the parade ends in front of the park and the doves are released, the whole thing has a small, quiet beauty that has long been forgotten in the big city.