Westerrönfelder Summer Festival for Young and Old

A Festival for the Entire Canal Community

Westerrönfeld is located directly on the south bank of the Kiel Canal, opposite Rendsburg in the state of Schleswig-Holstein and in the district of Rendsburg-Eckernförde. With around 5,500 inhabitants, the community is large enough for a vibrant club and cultural life, yet small enough to retain its village character. The 'Summer Festival for Young and Old' carries this dual character in its name — and in its concept.

Venue: The Alfred-Roth Foundation

The venue is the grounds of the Alfred-Roth Foundation at Grüner Steg, a charitable institution for assisted living on the canal bank. The foundation was established by the Roth family and maintains terraced houses, individual apartments, a day care area, and a communication center for the elderly. In summer, its outdoor area becomes the festival grounds — a deliberately intergenerational space where foundation residents, families from the village, and clubs can meet.

Opening and Program Structure

The festival traditionally begins shortly before 2 p.m. with a small parade by the Rendsburg Music Corps, whose brass sounds signal the opening. This is followed by welcome speeches from the Foundation's President and the Mayor of Westerrönfeld. From 2:30 p.m., stalls and snack stands open: coffee and homemade cakes from the foundation's kitchen, a barbecue stand with sausages, smoked fish from a regional smokehouse, crêpes, and cold drinks. The Westerrönfeld clubs — sports, fire brigade, local history, and traditional costume societies, as well as the women's association's tombola — present themselves at their own stands.

Games, Tombola, and Musical Afternoon

• Body painting, tattoos, and face painting for the youngest guests
• Wheel of fortune and tombola with prizes donated by local businesses
• Games for young and old on the meadow — from sack races to egg-and-spoon races
• Stage program with local music groups and dance performances
• Around 5:15 p.m., the traditional program highlight: 'Die Swinging Chordettes' with 90 minutes of music from the 1950s and 1960s — Doo-wop, swing, and early rock 'n' roll
• The evening concludes with joint dancing and a cozy get-together until the evening

Character and Significance

The Summer Festival is more than just a program — it is a social ritual through which Westerrönfeld cultivates its identity as a canal community. The connection between the foundation and the community, between older generations and families with children, is not just lip service here but a lived event. Those coming from Rendsburg via the high bridge experience the other, quieter bank of the canal — and a village festival that celebrates precisely this tranquility and connection.

Region: Rendsburg-Eckernförde and the Canal

Those who wish to combine their day with the Summer Festival can take a canal cruise from Rendsburg harbor, marvel at the impressive Rendsburg High Railway Bridge (one of Schleswig-Holstein's most important industrial monuments), or see the original 1913 transporter bridge. The Westerrönfeld side offers quiet walks along the canal towpath — watching ships from all over the world pass by within sight.