Lantern Festival 2025: A weekend full of magic, music and diversity!

Lantern Festival 2025: A weekend full of magic, music and diversity!

The Lantern Festival in Halle is just around the corner and it will be colorful and happy! From August 29th to 31st, 2025, the city will celebrate its 88th Lantern Festival, which will extend across the popular venues Ziegelwiese, Peißnitzinsel and the banks of the Rive. A cultural spectacle that not only warms the eyes but also the heart and has many highlights this year.
MDR reports that the opening ceremony will begin with a lantern parade on Friday at 8 p.m. and continue on Saturday from 3 p.m. with two boat parades.

A particularly traditional event will be the bridge jumping from the Giebichenstein Bridge, which will take place on Sunday from 1 p.m. Already on Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. we have the Rotarian duck race with 3,000 colorful ducks fighting for victory - fun for young and old! If you want to let off steam not only in the race but also in creative design, you have the opportunity to decorate your duck in advance and take part in the beauty contest. A great way to express creativity and win prizes, like Volksstimme reports.

Cultural diversity and stage program

The Lantern Festival also attracts with a diverse stage program. The focus is particularly on the Halle Stages, which will open the new seasons with theater, music and dance. Visitors can look forward to performances by greats like Shades of Deep Purple on Friday at 8 p.m. on the Ziegelwiese. On Saturday from 5 p.m. WAL, followed by Silly and Staubkind, will rock the stage. On Sunday the festival will conclude with a performance by Katrin Eipert and the “Sax & Fun” orchestra from 1 p.m. There are also offers for children, such as free lantern making on all festival days and the Tabaluga children's program, which starts at 2:30 p.m.

Another highlight is the fireworks display on Saturday evening from 8 p.m., which will light up the night with dazzling colors. Why? To end the festival, entry to the Lantern Festival is free - there is only a fee for food, drinks and rides. The good tip also applies here: traveling by public transport is recommended; the park-and-ride spaces are available.

Tradition meets modern pleasure

The historical origins of the Lantern Festival go back to 1928. Since then, the festival has become a magnet for visitors, with several hundred thousand people taking part in the celebrations every year. Families are offered a full program that invites them to participate and discover, as well as a look into the theater workshops, where those interested can take a look behind the scenes.

The Lantern Festival is not only a celebration of lights and colors, but also a wonderful opportunity to experience culture and community. Be there – the festival promises fun, joy and unforgettable moments for young and old!