Thanksgiving Celebration Held in Newkirchen-Vluyn Village Harvest

On Saturday, 20 September, the picturesque village of Neukirchen will come alive with the annual Harvest Festival. This traditional event, devoid of any commercial background, promises a day filled with live music, activities, and local delights for both young and old.

The festival will commence at 11:00 and continue until 21:00, with a stage set up at the church. The stage will be moved back for better passage and to accommodate a variety of performers throughout the day.

Kicking off the entertainment will be a Dutch fun band, who will perform as a lively walking act from 11:30 to 17:00 on the festival grounds. At 12:00, a tractor procession, accompanied by association foot groups and a brass band, will start at the cemetery, pass through the festival grounds, and return to the stage.

For the first time this year, a carousel will be available for children, adding an extra element of fun to the day. Local farmers and countrywomen will present harvest wreaths to the deputy mayor Claudia Wilke and pastor Stefan Vogt around 12:30/13:00.

Throughout the day, the city youth council will provide children's entertainment, while the Kreisjägerschaft runs the rolling forest school. A DJ will provide musical accompaniment during breaks, and in the evening from 19:00, the BigBand with musical direction by Manfred Honetschläger will take the stage for a performance at 19:00.

From 19:00, the duo Sauvignon Blanc will also perform, offering cover songs with guitar and two-part harmony.

Visitors can enjoy local products and regional specialties, with approximately 50 stalls set up on Hochstraße, Bruchstraße, Mozartstraße, Grevenstraße, offering arts and crafts, food, small businesses, associations, and organizations. The Heimat-und Verkehrsverein Neukirchen will bring grilled food and drinks.

Vlu-Ka-Ge will mix cocktails, adding a touch of sophistication to the festivities. The show program will also include performances from Kunst(t)räume, the children's choir of the Kita Kranichstraße, and Vlu-Ka-Ge.

The event is carried by many volunteers, with Thomas Stralka from the Heimat-und Verkehrsverein Neukirchen playing a significant role. The call is made to come to the village by public transport, bike, or on foot, as limited parking options are available in the village due to an open-air cinema for children.

Historical crafts will be discovered throughout the festival, making it a day not just for fun, but also for learning and appreciation of the village's rich history. Children up to 14 years can participate in the children's flea market at the area of the old pharmacy.

The city youth council is setting up the open-air cinema on Grafschafter Platz to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Lineg operates the water bus, providing an additional mode of transport for visitors.

So, mark your calendars for Saturday, 20 September, and join the celebration of the Harvest Festival in Neukirchen. It promises to be a day filled with fun, food, and festivities for all ages.