Stadtfest Thalheim/Erzgebirge

Drei-Tannen-Stadt in the Western Ore Mountains

Thalheim/Erzgebirge in the Erzgebirgskreis district is a small town with around 5,200 inhabitants in the western Ore Mountains, transitioning from the Ore Mountains ridge to the Ore Mountains basin. It bears the nickname "Drei-Tannen-Stadt" (Three Fir Trees Town) due to the three fir trees in its town crest — a symbol of the town's historical connection to the forest and the timber industry. In 2025, Thalheim celebrated its 100th town charter anniversary with a multi-day festival week that included highlights such as Highland Games and performances by Erzgebirge Aue and Stereoact. The annual town festival in June continues this tradition of celebration, in a more moderate form, but with the same fundamental idea: the whole town celebrates.

Thalheim Highland Games

A special feature that distinguishes the Thalheim town festival from many other town festivals in the region is the Thalheim Highland Games. The event is organized by the Ringerverein Thalheim (wrestling club), and the competitions take place on the artificial turf field at the Thalheim sports hall. Teams of strong men and women, primarily from clubs in the Drei-Tannen-Stadt and surrounding areas, compete against each other in Scottish-inspired disciplines: tug-of-war, log throwing (Caber Toss), stone lifting, hammer throw. Bagpipe music accompanies the opening and award ceremony. This discipline has been a firm part of the town festival since its second edition in 2025.

Live Music on Several Stages

Several stages are spread across the market square and the festival grounds: the main stage, the festival tent stage, and a small stage in the inner courtyard of the Brauhaus. Live bands, cover bands, and schlager artists perform on the main stage — in 2025, for example, the duo Stereoact and Erzgebirge Aue (main sponsor) were guests; the musical direction for 2026 will be announced shortly before the festival.

Club Life and Community

The Stadtfest Thalheim is supported by the town's clubs — sports clubs, carnival clubs, the fire department, the Brauhaus club, music clubs. They contribute stalls, food and drink offerings, hands-on activities, and contributions to the parade. This volunteer base makes the festival a true community celebration — not an externally produced event format, but a self-representation of the town community. For visitors from neighboring Ore Mountain towns — Aue, Stollberg, Zwönitz, Hohenstein-Ernstthal — the festival is therefore also an opportunity to get to know the club life of the Drei-Tannen-Stadt.

Ore Mountains in June

In June, the western Ore Mountains show themselves at their best: long bright evenings, mild temperatures, fir forests around the town, hiking trails to the Schwarzen Berg and the Pöhlberg. Those arriving for the town festival can easily combine it with walks in the surrounding area — Thalheim is located in the UNESCO World Heritage corridor of the Ore Mountains/Krušnohoří mining region and is surrounded by numerous mining traces.