Dessau City Festival: Three days full of music, fun and fireworks!

Dessau City Festival: Three days full of music, fun and fireworks!

On the first weekend in July it’s time to “celebrate and enjoy” again in Dessau. The big city festival will take place from July 4th to 6th, 2025, with a colorful program for young and old. Preparations are in full swing and the anticipation is palpable. Nothing less than a feast for the senses awaits visitors, who can look forward to a variety of musical performances, culinary delicacies and entertaining activities.

The official opening will be heralded on Friday at 7 p.m. by Mayor Robert Reck, Hannes Wolf and Dino Döll on the Stadtwerke stage in the heart of the city. From 5 p.m. onwards, celebrants can immerse themselves in the musical warm-up, which is offered on several stages. What particularly catches the eye is the band Young Province, which will perform on the Stadtwerke stage at 6 p.m., followed by the rousing “Venga Venga” party show from 9 p.m., which will end the evening with a spectacular fire show. DJ Florian Kellner will heat up the atmosphere on the market square and in the large town hall courtyard.

Family day and highlights on Saturday

Saturday is all about families. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the market square is transformed into a large playground where the Dessau public utility company has numerous attractions on offer. Here, the little ones can, among other things, refresh themselves at the drinking water bar and enjoy the Kika dandelion show at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. The blue light mile, which will present the police, fire brigade and other emergency services from 2 p.m., will certainly attract many interested people.

A musical highlight will be the performance of singer Joris, who will cause enthusiasm at the Stadtwerke Arena at 9.30 p.m. The day ends with a spectacular fireworks display at midnight, followed by the “Stadtwerke nightcap party” in the Kulturfabrik, where entry is free until midnight. The Dessau-Roßlau City Sports Association's Family Olympics will also take place in Ratsgasse throughout the day, a great opportunity to get active.

Sunday: hits and shopping Sunday

On Sunday the music will continue with the DVV Schlagergarten on the Stadtwerke stage from 11 a.m., where various artists will perform, including the well-known singer Nicole, who will perform from 4 p.m. From 1 p.m., Dessau city center invites you to Sunday shopping, where the shops are open until 6 p.m. The Colorful Mile, the Showmen's Fun and an art and wine market will also remain open to visitors. Tours of the Central German Theater and a climb to the tower of St. Mary's Church round off the relaxed Sunday program.

Arrival and traffic

It is strongly recommended to use public transport to get there, as Dessau main train station is only about a 10-minute walk away. To support this, there is an adapted timetable for trams and buses, which also includes an additional service from the Bauhausmuseum stop. However, there are road closures, especially Zerbster Straße and Schlossstraße. Entry to the Rathaus-Center car park remains possible, although the opening times apply for Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visitors should prepare for traffic restrictions throughout the city center.

For further information and the complete program, it is worth taking a look at the city festival website at dessfest.de. Celebrate with us and experience a weekend full of joy of life and community!

The city festival in Dessau is an event that should not be missed. Let yourself be carried away by the variety of offerings – whether musical performances, culinary delicacies or exciting attractions for the whole family. See you there!