Town and Music Festival Ortrand

Ortrand on May 1st — when the soapboxes roll

When the shawms play on May 1st, Ortrand is in its element. The small town in southern Brandenburg, in the Oberspreewald-Lausitz district right on the border with Saxony, has been celebrating its Town and Music Festival since 2006 — and 2026 marks the 21st edition. The venue is the town center, with stages, market stalls, and booths — and the unusual attraction of a soapbox derby on Ponickauer and Großenhainer Straße.

Soapbox Derby — Ortrand's Specialty

Starting at 10 a.m., the first soapboxes will race down the closed-off Ponickauer and Großenhainer Straße. Children, teenagers, and sometimes adults compete against each other in self-built wooden and aluminum carts. The races are the main attraction in the morning and draw families from all over southern Brandenburg and neighboring Saxony.

Music in the Afternoon

From 2 p.m. onwards, the musical program begins in the town center. Performances include:

• Ortrand Minstrels — the local traditional costume and dance group
• Tettau/Frauendorf Shawm Orchestra — a typical Brandenburg brass music tradition
• Ortrand Fife and Drum Corps — the local band
• Performance by Kita Regenbogen with dance and songs
• Samba Universo Band from Dresden — international flair in the program

Children's and Family Program

While the adults enjoy the music, the younger ones are entertained:

• Children's carousel
• Trampoline
• Bouncy castle
• Play stations with interactive activities
• Craft and face-painting booths

Pre-Events

• April 27th, 2026 — Dance into May at the Ortrand Kulturbahnhof (Culture Train Station)
• April 30th, 2026 — May bonfire on the outskirts of town with catering and live music
• May 1st, 2026 — Town and Music Festival with soapbox derby and stage program

Ortrand and Southern Lusatia

Ortrand is one of Brandenburg's smallest towns (approx. 2,500 inhabitants) and is located directly on the Saxon border. The region is characterized by reclaimed open-cast mining areas, the Lusatian Lake District, and a distinct shawm tradition (a form of brass music deeply rooted in the region). The Town and Music Festival showcases all these traditions — and is a May festival whose blend of Brandenburg and Saxony you'll hardly find anywhere else.