Stoppelmarkt Gerswalde

Harvest Thanksgiving, Customs, Summer Evening

The Stoppelmarkt is one of the oldest forms of custom in the Uckermark — a harvest thanksgiving festival in a contemporary guise, celebrated on the market squares of rural communities. Its name derives from the stubble left behind after the summer grain fields are mowed: when the grain is in the barns and the fields are cleared, the time for the big summer festivals begins. Gerswalde, a market town in the north of the Uckermark, has maintained this tradition for generations and will celebrate it in 2026 on August 7th and 8th.

Parade and Harvest Crown

The symbolic highlight is the festive parade on Saturday afternoon featuring the harvest crown, crafted from ears of grain, sunflowers, wildflowers, and hops. Farmers, associations, school classes, and the Gerswalde fire brigade march across the market square in historical costumes or themed outfits. The harvest crown is then received by the mayor — a ritualistic act marking the symbolic transition from harvest to festival time.

Showmen, Music, Regional Cuisine

From Friday evening, the market square itself becomes a classic folk festival site with carousels for children, shooting and lottery stalls, a dodgem car ride, and food stands. A stage provides entertainment with live music (folk music, Schlager, cover bands) and a large dance event on Saturday evening. Regional cuisine plays a major role: bratwurst from Uckermark pork production, fresh bread from the local baker, beer from Brandenburg breweries, and the inevitable pea soup from field kitchens.

Family Program and Sunday Service

There is a dedicated program for families with face painting, craft activities, a bouncy castle, and a tombola, the proceeds of which are traditionally donated by local businesses and farmers. On Sunday morning, an ecumenical festival service takes place on the market square — the fusion of church harvest thanksgiving and the customs festival, a tradition in the Uckermark for centuries.

Gerswalde and the Northwestern Uckermark

Gerswalde, with a good 1,900 inhabitants, is one of the medium-sized municipalities in the Amt Gerswalde, located about 20 km west of Prenzlau on the edge of the Uckermärkische Seen Nature Park. The landscape is characterized by forests, small lakes, and rolling hills — one of the most rural and nature-oriented areas of Brandenburg. Visitors to the Stoppelmarkt can combine their weekend with a bike tour along the Uecker River or a swim in one of the nearby lakes. Gerswalde Castle from the 18th century (now private property) and the late Gothic St. Nicholas Church are worth a look before or after visiting the market.