The planning has been underway for a long time, and Corona disrupted the organizers' plans multiple times, but now it is certain: On the weekend of July 16 and 17, 2022, the 1st Intercultural Neighborhood Festival will be celebrated in Erbach!
Elena Burgard has been the neighborhood manager of Erbach for about a year. Already at the beginning of her term, she spoke about the idea of organizing a large festival full of music and encounters in Homburg's largest district. Together with her neighborhood management team and the district conference "Living Erbach," the detailed planning has been underway for months. The result is a colorful program offered at the festival grounds on Nahestraße (next to the Homburg food bank) as well as at other locations including the music school, Böcklinstraße, Martin Luther House, the senior residential park "Am Erbach," the "Pro Seniore Residence" on Glanstraße, and the Martin Luther Church.
The event opens on Saturday, July 16th, at 10:45 AM, followed by performances at the music school and an oriental dance show on the festival grounds starting at 11 AM. A varied supporting program full of music, sound, rhythm, and dance will be offered until 7 PM. A highlight will certainly be the performance by the band "Oku & the Reggaerockers" at 5 PM.
On Sundays, the program begins with an open service at the Protestant Church Martin Luther featuring the youth band "Luthercompany." From 11 a.m., the Erbach pianist and composer Erlo Wagner will perform an open-air concert.
Many other clubs, schools, institutions, groups, and individuals have agreed to help shape the program and will surely provide great entertainment. The complete program can be found on the festival flyer, which will be available shortly. An intercultural buffet with delicacies from around the world, as well as a colorful program for young and old with a tombola, face painting for children, and other interactive activities such as a drumming workshop, complete the festival. Those who have drums, percussion instruments, congas, or cajons at home are warmly invited to bring them along to the open "Drum Circle."
“We are looking forward to a festival that aims to bring people together across cultures, religions, and ethnicities, promoting lived togetherness. The entire neighborhood should feel addressed, whether young or old, there is something for everyone,” explains district manager Elena Burgard about the intention of the festival and is grateful that so many people have agreed to help shape this event: “It will be the first festival of its kind and accessible to all – outdoors and free of charge is the motto,” Burgard continues. A big thank you also goes especially to the sponsors who, alongside the numerous volunteers, contribute financially and materially to the festival.
The festival is supported, among others, by the federal program "Living Democracy," the Adolf-Bender Center, as well as through the urban development funding program "Social City" of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community.
Information and the complete flyer will soon be available at www.lebendiges-erbach.de/quartiersmanagement and on Facebook (“Quartiersmanagement Homburg Erbach”) as well as from the neighborhood manager by phone at 06841/9898587 or by email (elena.burgard@homburg.de).
Bexbach, Eva Meyer, at 06826 529-111.
