Sonneberg celebrates the 21st Trabant & IFA meeting: technology that connects!

Sonneberg celebrates the 21st Trabant & IFA meeting: technology that connects!

The anticipation for the 21st Trabant & IFA meeting in Sonneberg is great. From June 27th to 29th, 2025, the site of the former Grenzkompanie 801 next to the vocational school center will be transformed into a mecca for automobile and technology enthusiasts. The motto this year is “RFT Sonneberg – technology that connects” and there is an exciting program on offer that has a lot in store for young and old. The 1st Trabant and IFA Club Sonneberg is the organizer of this popular event, which has long been a tradition in the region.

A highlight of the meeting is the special exhibition “Trabant meets RFT”, which focuses on the connection between vehicle construction and broadcasting and telecommunications technology in the GDR. Numerous historical vehicles can be seen, including Trabants, W50s and Simson two-wheelers. All lovers of classic cars and East German vehicles are warmly invited to look at the treasures and chat.

Entertainment and promotions

The music continues on Friday with live music from “The Cold Ducks” and a cozy campfire – weather permitting, however! Saturday also promises a lot of fun: a Spartakiad, children's games, a vehicle evaluation and a parts sale round off the program. Of course, physical well-being is also taken care of: food and drinks are provided so that all participants and visitors are well looked after.

On the evening of Saturday, the traditional award ceremony awaits you with the popular Sputnik party, which will certainly bring back many nostalgic memories and invite you to socialize. To ensure that the entry system remains affordable for everyone, day guests aged 14 and over only pay 3 euros, while the evening events cost between 5 and 6 euros.

All about the classic car scene

In recent years, classic car meetings have become a real crowd puller. Parallel to the Trabant & IFA meeting, the 32nd Upper Lusatian Motor Vehicle Veterans Meeting will take place in Herrnhut from June 13th to 15th. Other events, such as the 14th Framo & Barkas meeting in Frankenberg or the 19th Jawa & CZ brand meeting in Chemnitz, testify to the diversity and passion surrounding historic vehicles. Every year, these events attract more and more participants and visitors, and the organization of such meetings often requires the commitment of many volunteers, such as the annual classic car meeting of the Obermtzkow leisure clubs since 2007.

The Eastern Bloc vehicle meetings are not just exhibitions, but also a piece of living history that connects the region. The anticipation for the upcoming events is growing, and the classic car meetings are just around the corner, not only in Sonneberg, but in many other cities. So be there and experience the fascination of the nostalgic vehicles that remind us of another time!

Further information and details about the events can be found on the websites of in southern Thuringia, p601a.de and Obermtzkower leisure club.