Spandauer Pfingstfest at Scharfe Lanke

Pentecost on the Havel

Spandau, with around 250,000 inhabitants, is one of Berlin's larger districts and maintains its independent festival culture. The Spandauer Pfingstfest at Scharfe Lanke is one of the district's most traditional local festivals: a three-day event on the Pentecost weekend with an open-air stage, family program, and postcard views of the Havel. The venue is the meadow at Scharfe Lanke in the Wilhelmstadt district – one of the most beautiful spots on Berlin's Havel riverbank, south of Heerstraße.

Stage Program Between Rock and Shanty

The musical lineup is clearly geared towards a folk festival (Volksfest) and is genre-diverse: Rock bands like the Anno Rock Band, the Siemensstadt Big Band, the traditional Shanty Choir (performing classics of North German sea shanties), Blue Haley, and other local favorites from Spandau and the surrounding area. Each of the three days features a different lineup – the changes are arranged so that families can come during the day and evening crowds arrive later.

Family Program and Specialty Food Stalls

The character of the Pentecost festival is decidedly family-friendly: carousels, bouncy castles, trampoline parks, and slides for children, alongside stalls offering German and international specialties along the festival meadow. Admission is free. Those who wish to spend the day relaxing can pack a blanket and picnic basket and find a spot by the water – the stage sound is mixed so that you can hear what's happening even from a distance.

Spandau's Festival Calendar

The Pentecost festival is part of Spandau's dense festival calendar, coordinated by Partner für Spandau: following the Pentecost festival are the Havel Festival at Lindenufer (early June), the Old Town Festival with Wein.Sommer (late August), and the traditional Christmas Market in the Old Town (late November until just before Christmas Eve). Those who want to experience Spandau over several weeks have a ready-made tour route.