Walpurgis in the Harz Mountains
Celebrate the Walpurgis festival in Altenau with witches and devils
Walpurgis celebrations have been a firm tradition in the Harz Mountains for decades: Winter is driven away with witches and devils around the mystical flickering fires on the mountains of the Harz and spring is welcomed with cheerfulness and joy. By the way, you no longer have to climb the Brocken - it's pretty cold there at night. Celebrate this night at the Kurgastzentrum Altenau, in the "Altenauer Hexenkessel"! Special highlights are the performances of the dancing Bruchberg witches at the bubbling witches' cauldron and the lovingly built, crooked witches' house, which is only blown down from the Bruchberg into the witches' cauldron once a year!
The haunting of the Altenau witches' cauldron really begins on 30 April 2025 at 5.00 pm with the procession of little witches and devils accompanied by music from the Altenau brewery in Breite Straße. The Walpurgis spectacle in the Altenau concert garden/spa centre invites you to join in the afternoon with a mini disco, face painting, the big parade, all kinds of devilish games, a witches' broom driving licence, a witches' magic show for children and baking bread over the witches' bonfire in the witches' cauldron. The children's Walpurgis ends with a colourful firework display for families at around 19:15.
The magical world of witches
At around 7.30 pm, the hearty Walpurgis party begins with live music from the band "Two Voices and Friends", a magical fire show and bewitching hustle and bustle until midnight, when the head devil appears with the famous devil's speech and the May Queen. This is followed by the big May welcome firework display.
The mysterious Walpurgis Market also attracts visitors to the Altenau witches' cauldron with hellish delicacies such as devil's sausage, witches' steak and sweet treats. Drinks of all kinds are provided and colourful cocktails bubble away in the witches' cauldron!
Matching accessories for witches and devils such as hats, horns and brooms can be purchased directly on site.
Entry to the Walpurgis event is free.
