"Day of the Saxons" starts with rain - 250,000 guests expected

Rain to start, sunshine for the finale: Anyone coming to the 30th "Day of Saxony" in Sebnitz this weekend will have to be prepared for changeable weather. On Friday, a low pressure system will bring rain and some thunderstorms at around 20 degrees, while the German Weather Service is forecasting plenty of sunshine and 22 to 25 degrees for Saturday and Sunday.

Despite the wet starting conditions, the town in the district of Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains is expecting more than 250,000 visitors. The largest folk and club festival in the Free State will be officially opened on Friday at 5 p.m. on the media stage on the market square - with Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU) and State Parliament President Alexander Dierks (CDU), who is also President of the Board of Trustees.

Volunteering in the spotlight

"Over 100 clubs have registered for the festival weekend, which shows how lively and diverse our society is," said Dierks. "The Day of the Saxons" is a great showcase for volunteering and a strong sign of cohesion. On the "Democracy Mile" at the Sebnitz Center, visitors can talk to members of parliament and the state government.

The program ranges from pop to metal, with eleven stages, 18 themed miles, a historical army camp, a fairground with a freefall tower and a Ferris wheel. There will be a 90s party on Saturday evening and the big parade on Sunday with more than 90 displays - from music bands and traditional costume groups to floats and historical displays. The procession, which will last over two hours, will be broadcast on Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR).

Symbolic bridge-building with the Czech Republic

For the first time, the festival will also be celebrated across borders: On Saturday evening, the mayors of Sebnitz and Dolní Poustevna want to symbolically cross the border together - under the motto "Celebrate without borders!"

The "Day of the Saxons" has been held annually in alternating cities since 1992. Sebnitz is hosting the event for the second time since 2003. The motto for the anniversary is "To blooming experiences!"