The mining festival in the middle of the year is a tradition in the mining areas; it was and is the social highlight of the year for the miners with a church service and concerts by the mining bands. The mining community of Rüdersdorf has revived this mining custom since reunification and always celebrates its mining festival on the first weekend in July. And this year, it's being held under the banner of two anniversaries: 770 years of mining tradition and 220 years of the Heinitz Tunnel.
"The mining festival will once again begin with the traditional evening on Friday, 5 July, with the French horn players from 6 p.m. at the magazine building," says Museum Park Director Stephen Ruebsam about the festival programme. "The Bergfest will be ceremoniously opened at sunset with the entry of the miners with lights and the grand taps of the mountain band at the Rumford ovens."
A special highlight this year is the Bergfest Saturday, the "Day of Stones", on 6 July: "On Saturday, from 10 a.m., everything revolves around stones, fossils and geology," says Ruebsam. "For example, kids can dig in a large pile of stones that has been specially transported to the Bülow Canal and unearth hidden treasures." Young and old alike can learn the art of grinding and polishing stones with the Geo-Verein and the mining association organises hourly tours through the 220-year-old Heinitz Tunnel. Those interested in the earth's past can take part in a fossil hunt and then have their finds identified. For technology and adventure enthusiasts, the geocaching experts "Erdzwerge" offer a special play area that provides fun and entertainment. This will be surrounded by other colourful activities, such as archery with the shooting club, clay burning and stone painting with the Wiesenzirkus, walking acts and fairytale floats, water ball games, horse riding and a culinary offer.
At 2 pm, the live blasting in the open-cast mine will take place, which can be observed from the plateau of the mining company CEMEX (staircase opposite the shaft furnace battery). "It's always an experience to see tonnes of limestone blasted out of the mountain," says Ruebsam.
There's also something going on again on the stage on the meadow at the Heinitz portal: in the afternoon at 1 pm and 3.30 pm, "Die GÄNG - Für den Swag im Kinderzimmer" will put everyone in a good mood, at 5 pm "Die Eroberer" will play cover songs and the last gig will be in keeping with the motto of the day: from 7 pm there will be bluegrass from the "Limestones" before the evening draws to a relaxed close at 10 pm.
Sunday, 7 July, traditionally starts at 10 am with the ecumenical church service in the Kalkberg church in the town centre. At 11.30 a.m., the big parade of clubs and societies to the museum park begins there and ends at the festival site with a gun salute by the shooting club. Stephen Ruebsam reports on the events in the museum park: "The association day will be held in the park on Sunday from 10 a.m. with free admission, again with lots of activities around the theme of stones and a family programme." The Rüdersdorf carnival community will be performing on the stage at 1 pm, before the Rüdersdorf mountain band gives a concert there at 1.30 pm.
The team from Museumspark Rüdersdorf is looking forward to a colourful family weekend.
Dates & opening times:
Friday, 5 July 2024, 6 pm - 10 pm
Saturday, 6 July 2024, 10 am - 10 pm
Sunday, 7 July 2024, 10 am - 6 pm
Programme summary:
Friday, 5 July 2024
6 pm Traditional evening at the magazine and Rumford stoves with French horn players
21.30 hrs Miners' procession with candlelight, taps by the mountain band
Saturday, 6 JulyJuly 2024 "Stone Day"
from 10 am Fossil hunt on the Bülow Canal, hands-on and creative activities by the "Wiesenzirkus Bunterhund"
from 10 am Family programme on the festival meadow at the Heinitz Tunnel
11 am - 4 pm Guided tours through the Heinitz Tunnel
1 pm "Die GÄNG - Für den Swag im Kinderzimmer" on stage
2 pm Live blasting at the water management (opposite the shaft furnace battery)
15.30 hrs "Die GÄNG - Für den Swag im Kinderzimmer" on stage
5 hrs "Die Eroberer" on stage
7 hrs "Die Limestones" on stage
from 9 hrs Closing time
Sunday, 7. July 2024
10 a.m. Mountain service in the Kalkberg church (Hans-Striegelski-Straße 7)
from 10 a.m. Museum park open
11.30 a.m. Parade with the clubs from the church to the museum park, followed by a gun salute by the shooting club
1 p.m. Rüdersdorf carnival community on stage
13.30 hrs Concert with the Bergkapelle Rüdersdorf on stage
2 - 4 hrs Guided tours through the Heinitz Tunnel
- Programme subject to change -
Admission:
Friday from 6 hrs Admission free
Saturday 8 euros for adults, 4 euros for children 6 - 16 years, admission free for children up to 5 years
Sunday Admission free
Museumspark Rüdersdorf
Heinitzstraße 9
15562 Rüdersdorf bei Berlin
www.museumspark.de
Tel. 033638 79 97 97
Travel tips:
We recommend travelling by public transport. In addition to the usual car parks around the museum park, the car park opposite the animal enclosure, which can be reached via Vogelsdorfer Straße or Am Kanal, will be open again on Saturday and Sunday. Parking here is free of charge.
Public transport: Tram 88 to the 'Museumspark' stop or bus 950 to the 'Landhof' stop
- Museums- und Kultur GmbH Rüdersdorf -