Vegesacker Bällerennen

When 5000 Balls Start Rolling

It is one of the most unusual festival traditions in Bremen's north: at the Vegesacker Bällerennen, 5000 colorful plastic balls are tipped out at the top of Reeder-Bischoff-Straße in Vegesack on a summer day and roll down the slightly sloping street. Each ball carries a number, and each number belongs to a raffle ticket. Whichever ball rolls across the finish line first decides the grand prize — the rest is pure fun for young and old.

A Game with Heart for a Good Cause

Behind the cheerful spectacle lies a serious background: the Lions Club Lesmona e.V. has been organizing the race since 2015 and donates the proceeds year after year to a charitable organization. Sometimes children's projects benefit, sometimes social institutions from Bremen's north. The raffle tickets cost two euros each and are available in advance in numerous Vegesack shops; on race day, street vendors sell the last tickets directly on Reeder-Bischoff-Straße. You can buy as many tickets as you like per person.

Hanseatic Community Spirit in the North of Bremen

Vegesack, the old port town at the mouth of the Lesum into the Weser, maintains a long tradition of civic engagement. The Bällerennen fits perfectly into this Hanseatic self-image: a bit of competition, a lot of community, and in the end, a win for everyone. Around the event, the pedestrian zone transforms into a small festival mile with stalls and entertainment.