Mayor Uwe Conradt: "Saarbrücken celebrates culture and life. This major event with its top-class program is an important boost for the entire region. The new Kultstadtfest combines the best of two popular events: the Old Town Festival and the Culture Mile Festival. Visitors can look forward to even more stages, even more programs, and even more culture. During the pandemic, we consistently supported culture within the framework of applicable regulations. However, the Kultstadtfest now marks a true restart for large cultural events that so many people long for. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who is contributing to making this wonderful festival possible."
Regional Association Director Peter Gillo: "The festival is taking over the other side of the Saar, and for the first time the Schlossplatz will be part of the event. This is great and a worthy expansion. The Saarbrücken Schlossplatz, with its ambiance, cafés and restaurants, and significant museums, is a central cultural location and a popular meeting place."
Lutz Semmelrogge, Deputy Director of Saarländischer Rundfunk: "For SR, it is a major concern to be a partner in the Kultstadtfest. It is important to us not only to appear as reporters but also as promoters and supporters of culture in Saarland. At the Kultstadtfest in Saarbrücken, we do this in many ways: with the meeting of song poets from Germany and France in the courtyard of the city gallery, with the SR 2 stage on the Schlossplatz, with top-level SR 1 concerts in front of the State Theatre, and with the ensembles of our German Radio Philharmonic, which can be experienced at various locations throughout the city."
Mayor Conradt will officially open the Kultstadtfest on Friday at 8 p.m. on the stage at St. Johanner Markt. Afterwards, various musical groups will turn the market into a party mile.
Visitors can look forward to three days with top national acts performing on the stages in Saarbrücken city. Max Mutzke and the orchestra of the Saarland State Theatre will perform on Saturday on the Sparkasse stage in front of the State Theatre.
Another highlight of the program on Saturday is the performance of the play "I, Judas" with the actor Ben Becker in the St. Michael Church. Due to the limited number of seats, admission to the play is only possible with prior registration at kultstadtfest.saarbruecken.de. The pop-rock group MIA from Berlin will round off Sunday evening on the stage in front of the State Theatre.
During the Kultstadtfest, Faßstraße and the street “Am Stadtgraben” transform into a promenade. Visitors can expect a range of goods from around the world at the market for art, design, and knick-knacks.
From Friday to Sunday, the German and French singer-songwriter scenes will meet for the seventh time at the SR 2 RendezVous Chanson with Gerd Heger in the courtyard of the Stadtgalerie. At Cora-Eppstein-Platz, citizens can look forward to the "fairly grateful zone" as a space for appreciative togetherness.
Another special feature of the Kultstadtfest is new stages and event venues. For the first time, the area beyond the Alte Brücke will also be activated: The Historical Museum Saar attracts visitors with weapons and armor from the medieval period. Musical performances await at the vhs center. Art enthusiasts can participate in a painting and drawing workshop at the Modern Gallery. Visitors can experience history up close in front of the Museum of Prehistory and Early History with the Roman living history group "Legio Prima Germanica Augusta." Additionally, guided tours through the Old Collection of the Saarland Museum are offered.
SR 2 KulturRadio presents on its stage at Schlossplatz, among others, the stand-up comedian Quichotte, the energetic and music-filled „17 Hippies“ from Berlin, and produces the popular book show „Questions for the Author‟ in the castle cellar. The University of Music Saar invites you to breakfast, and the State Theatre to a joint theatre brunch at Landwehrplatz.
The children's meadow below the State Theater offers a varied family program on Saturdays and Sundays. Here, children can dance to the latest summer hits with the Bootz-Ohlmann dance school, be enchanted by Circus Zantac, or test their skills playing baseball with the River Bandits.
Below the Hochschule für Musik Saar, Café Exodus offers young bands the opportunity to perform their songs in front of a large audience. Here, guests experience emerging acts from the music scene. 2. Chance Saarland e.V. is located on Türkenstraße. Regional and national bands will perform here.
The Kultstadtfest is jointly organized by the municipal cultural office, the city gallery, and the music school of the state capital, the German Radio Philharmonic, the Saar Music University, the Historical Museum Saar, the Saarland Artists' House, the Saarland Cultural Heritage Foundation, SR 2 KulturRadio, the Saarland State Theatre, the Theater im Viertel, Saarland University, and the adult education center of the regional association.
Main sponsors and advertising partners of the Kultstadtfest are Sparkasse Saarbrücken and Energie SaarLorLux. Advertising, media, and cooperation partners include Saarländischer Rundfunk, Saarland Spielbank GmbH, Welt:raum, the agency HDW Neue Kommunikation GmbH, and the Wochenspiegel.
The entire program can be found by those interested at kultstadtfest.saarbruecken.de.
