Weißwasser Feiert! — Festival of Clubs

Four Days of Club Festival in the Glass City

The Weißwasser Feiert! — Festival of Clubs is the central city festival of the Upper Lusatian glass city. From May 14 to 17, 2026, it transforms the market square and the Schnitterbrache into a continuous festival mile. Unlike commercial city festivals in larger towns, Weißwasser Feiert! is a club festival: the local clubs — sports, culture, social, fire brigade, youth clubs — are the focus. The festival honors voluntary work, which plays a particularly important role for social cohesion in a city with currently around 14,000 inhabitants (down from over 30,000 in GDR times).

Thursday — Funfair Opening

On Thursday, May 14, 2026, the funfair opens at 1:00 PM: showmen set up their rides, carousels spin, the scent of cotton candy and bratwurst fills the city center. Families start their festival weekend here; the program on Thursday is deliberately kept manageable — the main crowds arrive on the weekend.

Friday — «Weißwasser Searches for a Superstar»

On Friday, May 15, 2026, starting at 6:00 PM, the karaoke competition is on the program: «Weißwasser Searches for a Superstar». Residents of the city compete against the jury and the audience on the main stage at the market square. The format is popular and guarantees a lively atmosphere. The stalls and rides continue to operate.

Saturday — Central Club Day

Saturday, May 16, 2026, is the main day of the festival: the central club day. Weißwasser clubs present themselves on the main stage — sports demonstrations, dances, choirs, music bands, theater excerpts. There are honors for particularly committed club members and the presentation of annual awards for voluntary work. In parallel, club stalls offer food, drinks, and self-representation. In the evening, there are concerts on the main stage, and the day concludes with dancing and socializing.

Sunday — Family Day and Festival Finale

Sunday, May 17, 2026, is more relaxed: a morning pint with brass music, children's program in the morning, club stalls at noon, then a leisurely festival finale in the afternoon. Families can enjoy the funfair one last time before the showmen pack up in the evening.

Weißwasser — the Upper Lusatian Glass City

The city of Weißwasser/O.L. in the Görlitz district was once the «Glass Pyramid of Saxony» — over 30 glassworks were located here, and the population reached over 38,000 during GDR times. After reunification, the city lost a large part of its industry and population. Today (around 14,000 inhabitants), Weißwasser is finding its way between structural change, the phase-out of Lusatian lignite mining, and the tourism development of the Lusatian Lake District. The festival of clubs is an expression of this identity: a city that relies on its citizens and their cohesion.