Maritime Festival Held in Vegesack
Prepare for an unforgettable weekend as the 25th International Maritime Festival in Vegesack returns from August 1 to 3, 2025. This year's event promises a rich array of new attractions, bands, and food options that will transform the Maritime Mile into a bustling open-air festival.
### New Attractions and Exhibitions
The festival spans eight stages between Hafenwald and the Stadtgarten, featuring a diverse music and event program. Expect maritime exhibitions and installations, including robust cutter pulling competitions and water and light installations around the Museumshaven, creating a magical atmosphere with traditional ships. The inner city shopping area of Vegesack becomes a lively open-air stage on festival Saturday, while exhibitions by well-known fine artists add a touch of culture to the festivities. The event culminates with a grand fireworks display and a traditional shanty slam, where groups gather for a final concert.
### Diverse Music Lineup
Over 30 bands will broaden the genre of "Sea Music" to include rock, punk, Celtic metal, folk, pop, and more, all performed under the open sky and free of charge. Notable new headliners include Triddana, a Celtic metal band from Argentina known for combining metal with Celtic melodies and spectacular showmanship, and The Clan, a folk-rock band from Milan that blends punk-rock with traditional Celtic and Irish music, promising an energetic performance.
### Tempting Food Options
While specific new food vendors are not detailed, the festival has a longstanding reputation for offering good food and drink in a maritime and festive atmosphere, catering to diverse tastes and aligning with the lively cultural and musical environment.
### Additional Highlights
- Recycling deposit machines (Pfandspendentonnen) are available for additional ways to contribute to the festival's preservation. - A new addition to the festival is the artisanal market "WeserART," located in the boathouse. Here, you can find unique items like watercolors on maps, ships carved by an iron sculptor, and bags made from old sails. - The Ratskeller is participating in the festival, turning the Maritime Mile into a small wine route. - Six new bands will be performing, including AKAB, The Back Beach Boys, Sound Tradition, Connemara Stone Company, The Sandsacks, and Seemannsbräute. - The small stage at the Whale's Tail has been replaced with seating to facilitate visitor flow. - More traverses have been added to keep paths clear of cables and lines for improved accessibility. - A children's program will be available on all three days, starting at 4 pm on Friday, featuring Captain Archibald, Tim Jantzen, Clown Sventolino, and a Children's Pirate Land. - A new attraction this year is a 105-foot-tall Ferris wheel offering a view of the harbor and parts of the festival grounds. - Donation boxes at the info stand and on the festival grounds are another way to support the festival. - The festival merchandise includes anniversary shirts and hoodies in a new design.
The International Maritime Festival is a major highlight in Vegesack, drawing about 100,000 visitors annually. This year's event celebrates a quarter-century of maritime culture with performances, competitions, art, and fireworks. Don't miss out on this vibrant celebration of music, culture, and heritage!
The lively inner city shopping area of Vegesack will host cultural exhibitions by well-known fine artists, adding an element of sophistication to the festivities during the International Maritime Festival.
Visitors can indulge in a variety of food options aligning with the festival's lively cultural and musical environment, as the event has a reputation for offering good food and drink in a maritime atmosphere.
For those interested in fashion and beauty, the artisanal market "WeserART" offers unique items, including bags made from old sails, creating an opportunity to take home a piece of the festival memorabilia.
