Scharmbeck: Harvest Festival and Traditions

One of Scharmbeck’s distinctive traditions is the Harvest Festival. It is celebrated every year over four days around the first Sunday in September; the tradition dates back to 1949. Plan your travel dates around the multi-day festival, rather than relying solely on the approximate time of year in September.

The Harvest Festival: parade, straw castle and king and queen elections

The parade features around 20 elaborately decorated harvest floats with different themes. They are usually pulled by vintage tractors, accompanied by marching bands and groups on foot. The themes and participants may vary from year to year. The parade thus combines intricately decorated floats with music and groups on foot, while its exact composition can change.

The festival also includes a straw castle of around 300 square metres, with tunnels, alcoves and caves made from straw bales. It adds a different kind of attraction to the passing parade. The straw castle is a recurring feature; the specific programme may change from year to year.

There are free activities for children, including bouncy attractions, climbing, a craft workshop and face painting. These activities extend the festival programme beyond the parade. The individual activities on offer may vary from year to year.

Another tradition is the annual election of a king and a queen. A children’s king and queen are also elected during the children’s afternoon. The adult tradition dates back to 1949, and the children’s election to 1955. Both the adult and children’s elections have therefore been part of the festival for many decades.

If a particular part of the programme is important to your trip, it is worth checking the details for the festival year in question: float themes, participants and individual children’s activities may change. This helps you plan your visit around the part of the four-day festival that interests you most.

Getting to the Harvest Festival

To get to the Harvest Festival, take the A39 to the Winsen-West exit. If travelling from the south via the A7, take the Thieshope exit and continue through Pattensen. Roadworks and traffic may affect these routes, so check the current traffic arrangements before setting off.

Winsen (Luhe): culture and cycling routes

In Winsen (Luhe), the historic Marstall is a cultural and historical attraction in its own right. Built around 1600, this half-timbered building houses a permanent exhibition on the history of the region and the town of Winsen, from the Stone Age to the present day. Regional highlights include the precious embroidery and inlay work of the Winsen marshes; media stations and interactive displays complement the exhibition. The exhibition spans the period from prehistory to the present, while the crafts provide a distinctive regional focus.

The tower of Winsen Castle houses an exhibition on the Reformation and the Wars of Religion. The tower is used as an outpost of the museum. Together with the permanent exhibition in the Marstall, this venue offers further insight into the history of Winsen and religious upheavals.

Cycling routes are another highlight in Winsen (Luhe). The Luhe Cycle Route runs right alongside the Luhe Canal to the outskirts of Winsen. It is around 60 kilometres long and has no significant climbs. It continues to Elbuferstraße, where it meets the Elbe Cycle Route. The Elbe Cycle Route, other river cycle routes and regional circular tours also pass through the town of Winsen (Luhe). Distance, route and elevation profile provide different points of reference when planning a cycling trip.

Discover more destinations: Hittfeld, Stelle, Tostedt, Drage, Marschacht, Undeloh, Neu Wulmstorf, Jesteburg

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