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Festival of Light in Leipzig: Celebrations for freedom and unity on October 9th!
On October 9, 2025, Leipzig will celebrate the Festival of Light for German unity with peace, art and the laying of the foundation stone of a monument.
Festival of Light in Leipzig: Celebrations for freedom and unity on October 9th!
On October 9, 2025, the lights of Leipzig invited people to a special celebration: The [MDR](https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/sachsen/leipzig/lichtfest- Veranstaltung-programm-unit-revolution-106~amp.html) celebrated the 35th anniversary of German unity. In the historical setting of Leipzig's city center, numerous visitors gathered from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. to experience the Festival of Light in all its splendor.
The evening traditionally began with a peace prayer in the St. Nicholas Church led by Pastor Bernhard Stief, which started at 5:00 p.m. The highly anticipated speech on democracy followed at 6:15 p.m., given by the renowned author Nino Haratischwili. The fact that prominent guests such as Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer and Minister of State for Culture Wolfram Weimer were present at the Festival of Light underlined the importance of the event.
Artistic masterpieces and laying of the foundation stone
The highlight of the festival took place at 8:00 p.m.: the laying of the foundation stone for the future Freedom and Unity Monument on Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz. This monument will be completed by the 40th anniversary of the Monday demonstrations in 2029 at the latest and is a work of art in its own right. Wilhelm-Leuschner-Platz itself plays a central role in the history of the Peaceful Revolution, which led to the change in 1989, when around 70,000 people took to the streets for freedom and justice.
An artistic light path led the participants through the city, lined with five light art projects designed by East and West German artists, among others. From the Nikolaikirche to the Neumarkt to the Schiller Park – the installations were an impressive symbol of the Germans coming together. Guests were able to get candles free of charge from various information stands and thus contribute to the special atmosphere of the Festival of Light.
Tradition and memory
“Approaching each other – 35 years of German unity” was the motto of the Light Festival and emphasized the ongoing importance of unity. The Light Festival website describes how this event served not only as a celebration, but also as a commemoration of the Monday demonstrations that brought about the non-violent overthrow of the SED regime. The event was as much a celebratory review as it was a cultural event.
The premiere of the choir “Our courage will be close to us”, in which 170 children and young people took part with great enthusiasm, was particularly touching. Music and artistic performances through dance performances rounded off the program and created a colorful and inspiring atmosphere.
But the Festival of Light was not only a sign of unity, but also a moment of reflection. On the sidelines of the celebrations, a small group of protesters encouraged people to think about issues such as rearmament and social inequality. The festival brought together both joy and thoughtful voices.
Anyone who wanted to experience what was happening in the city was recommended to come by public transport, bike or on foot. Due to the event, traffic restrictions were in place from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Although the roads were closed, this did not stop people from celebrating the Festival of Lights and remembering the historic events of 1989.
Overall, the Festival of Light reflected the progress that Leipzig has made over the last 35 years and reminded everyone in attendance of the power of cohesion and the importance of freedom and democracy.