Summer and Light Festival Crottendorf

Erzgebirge Village with Festival Tradition

Crottendorf is a municipality in the western Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge) in the Erzgebirgskreis district, about 10 km north of Annaberg-Buchholz, in the state of Saxony. With around 5,200 inhabitants, Crottendorf is a typical Ore Mountains village — characterised by old toy manufactories (the famous Crottendorfer Räucherkerzen come from here), traditional club life, and a rich festival culture. The Sommer- und Lichterfest, along with the Christmas market, is the most important social event of the year in the village.

Crottendorf Park as a Festival Backdrop

The Crottendorfer Park, a small, village-owned green space with old trees, a meadow, and paths, forms the backdrop for the festival. The festival tent is set up on the festival meadow, alongside food stalls, a carousel, a bouncy castle, and a stage. What makes the park special is its character — quiet, rural, familiar. Anyone walking through the festival grounds on the weekend will meet acquaintances from the village, former Crottendorf residents who travel for the weekend, and guests from the neighbouring towns of Annaberg-Buchholz, Schlettau, and Sehmatal.

Lichterfest — The Special Accent

A special feature is the Lichterfest (Festival of Lights), which gives the summer festival its name. Light motifs are set up in the park — illuminated figures, fairy lights between the trees, lanterns along the paths, illuminated handicraft objects, and small light sculptures. Residents and clubs participate in designing their own motifs — the Lichterfest thus has a participatory character that makes the village community visible. In the evening, when the sun sets, a fairytale atmosphere is created in the park.

Festival Programme with Club Life

The festival usually lasts from Friday to Sunday (or from Thursday to Sunday in special editions). Official opening on Friday evening with beer tapping and live music. Saturday is the main day with sports competitions organised by the clubs, a children's programme, dancing, live bands, and the Lichterfest in the evening. Sunday features a morning pint (Frühschoppen) and a family programme. The Faschingsgesellschaft CDF Crottendorf is the main organiser — an unusual constellation (Carnival society organises a summer festival), which is not uncommon in the Ore Mountains and shows how closely the club structures in the village are intertwined.

Crottendorf and its Incense Cone Heritage

Crottendorf is known throughout Germany for its Crottendorfer Räucherkerzen (incense cones) — the small cones burned in every Ore Mountains smoker man (Räuchermännchen). The Crottendorfer Räucherkerzen e.K. manufactory is based in the village and is one of the oldest manufacturers of this tradition. Those travelling for the summer festival can easily incorporate a factory visit or a walk through the village — Crottendorf is located in the UNESCO World Heritage Corridor of the Ore Mountains Mining Region/Krušnohoří and is surrounded by numerous mining traces and hiking trails.