Bernau experienced a great 32nd Hussite Festival with 25,000 visitors!

Bernau experienced a great 32nd Hussite Festival with 25,000 visitors!

Bernau, Deutschland - just under 25,000 visitors flocked to Bernau from June 13th to 15th, 2025 to experience the 32nd Hussite Festival. The festival, which is deeply rooted in the history of the city, was ceremoniously opened at the Steingor on Friday afternoon. Mayor André Stahl and the Bernauer Heimatverein officially declared the weekend to open, supported by Mayor Laurent Jeanne from the twin town of Mushroom-Sur-Marne. This opening ceremony was only the prelude to a series of festive activities that inspired visitors.

The Federal Police Orchestra Berlin provided the perfect musical start with film music on the market square. The concert started at 7:30 p.m. and the chairs and standing room were quickly occupied. Singing soloists such as Nadine Oswald and Benedikt contributed to the mood, while choirs from the Paulus-Praetorius-Gymnasium and Barnim-Gymnasium received strong applause. The crowning glory of the opening day was a torchlight parade and an impressive fireworks display that illuminated the night.

a festival full of history

The Hussite Festival has its roots in the history of the Hussite movement of the 15th century. This movement was created under the leadership of Jan Hus, who preached in Prague and entered the church for reforms. Ultimately, he was burned as a heretic, which led to years of conflicts in Europe - the Hussite movement left its mark on the 17th century. Historically, the Bernauer celebrated the day of liberation from the Hussite threat with processions and services that have developed into modern celebrations over the centuries. From festive moves to extensive markets that present art and craft, the festival offers a rich and entertaining experience for all ages. Landscapes in Germany describes the development of this tradition and its importance in the city of Bernau.

On Saturday morning, a historic parade roamed the city center with around 1,700 players and numerous spectators. The medieval market, full of jugglers, Minnsänger, knight tournaments and other attractions, attracted many visitors, while around 20 rides for the young audience were available on the fairground. The modern art market with more than 50 stands in the city center, which presented the creativity of local artists, was particularly popular.

a festival for the whole family

The physical well-being was taken care of at various restaurants on the marketplace, which turned out to be a true music café. Another highlight was the Sunday presentation "The Battle of Bernau", which ended the festival in a dramatic way. Despite the not so pleasant heat, Mayor André Stahl judged the festival as a full success, thanks to the help of numerous volunteers and the building yard. There are also traffic regulations to help during the festival to safely navigate through the city, whereby visitors were recommended to use the parking garages because parking spaces in the city center were scarce.

The next Hussite Festival is already planned for the coming year. From June 12th to 14th, 2026, the celebrations should take place again to celebrate the historical importance of the Hussites and the sense of community in Bernau. [Bernau Live] (https://bernau-live.de/hussitenfest-bernau/das-30-hussitenfest-bernau-wurde-eroeffnet-all-ein-schoene era) also expresses itself positively about the festive atmosphere and the number of visitors, which show that the tradition of the Hussiten lives and brings joy.