Halle's 1848 Revolution festival brings democracy to life next March
A special event will mark the 1848 Revolution in Halle (Saale) next spring. On Friday, March 20, 2026, the Halle City Museum will host a democracy festival at Burgstraße 45b, the historic site of a key 19th-century gathering. The afternoon will include debates, poetry readings, and a choir competition centred on the 1848 Citizens' Song.
The festival takes place at the former Gasthof zur Weintraube, where citizens met on April 3, 1848, to discuss freedom and order during Germany's early democracy movement. Originally a garden venue, the building later became the Bethcke-Lehmann-Haus, a protected cultural monument. Today, the City Museum is organising the event as part of the Days of Democratic History, running from March 18–22, 2026, under the patronage of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
From **3:30 to 5 p.m.**, visitors can enjoy a bring-your-own picnic, listen to 1848-era poetry, and join a panel debate. A choir competition will also showcase performances of Adalbert Harnisch's *Citizens' Song*, with prizes of **€150, €100, and €50** awarded based on musical quality, historical accuracy, and audience impact. Choirs and groups have until **Monday, March 16, 2026**, to apply by emailing **norbert.boehnke@[museum website]**. Before the festival, attendees can gather at **2:30 p.m.** for a visit to Laurentius Cemetery, where Norbert Böhnke will speak on the theme *'Freedom and Order'* in honour of Rudolf Haym. Sheet music for the Citizens' Song, arranged by Georg L. Sothilander, is available online for those wishing to participate.
The event revives a pivotal moment in German democratic history at its original location. With debates, music, and a picnic, it offers a chance to reflect on the 1848 Revolution's legacy. Applications for the choir competition close on March 16, and the full programme runs from March 18–22.
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