Beauty and character:

Schwerin on the Market Square

Experience the state capital in all its diversity with players from music, culture, tourism and volunteering. The city presents itself along Puschkinstraße and on the market square. Guests can expect an attractive program and musical highlights in the evening. The local gastronomy from Schwerin and the surrounding area provides a colorful culinary offer.

Highlights

Highlights in the Rathaus

The exhibition “Gewachsen. Geteilt. Geeint. Grenzgeschichte(n)” tells of the effect of the separation of the two Germanys on people, the economy and nature in the metropolitan region; it shows how things have grown together and also ventures a look to the future.
In the Schwerin job lounge, businesses from Schwerin and the city will be presenting job opportunities. Visitors can chat to company representatives in a relaxed atmosphere. Schwerin’s twin city, Wuppertal, is also taking part.
Daily guided tour (in German) from 2 to 5 October: “Auf den Spuren der friedlichen Revolution in Schwerin”, duration approx. 90 minutes, 4 times a day, prior registration required
Holiday meets career: tourism highlights and job opportunities in the heart of the old town.

Zusammen wachsen

Highlights on the Marktbühne stage

2 October, 2 pm: opening of the Festival of Unity by the Minister President and the Mayor of the state capital Schwerin.
3 October, 10 am: live broadcast of the church service from Schwerin Cathedral.
Spiegel – Organismus – Annäherung: a choreographic sculpture by IPtanz in co-operation with the Schwerin Cultural Office.
Presentation of the children’s organisation Kindertafel and its work, including the project Kiddies im Block, from which the girls’ band Harmonie der Einheit was formed.
Public singing “3. Oktober – Deutschland singt und klingt”: a giant musical participatory event with Schwerin choirs and the Schwerin Youth Symphony Orchestra. Between the songs, famous people and eyewitnesses of reunification will be sharing their experiences, including Manuela Schwesig, Marcus Meckel and others.
Sports clubs, sports centres and the sports high school/Olympic training centre will present their programmes and invite visitors to take part in sporting activities on the market square. On 4 October, athletes from Schwerin who took part in the Para and Olympic Games will appearing.
“Jutsch Pappetz” – a personal encounter with oversized figures with which locals from Schwerin will swarm out.
Live music, including singer-songwriter ÖXL, July House, Luna Soul, Green Milk Project, Keimzeit, Tripod, the Schwerin Jazzkombüse with jazz saxophonist Fiete Felsch from the NDR BigBand.

Deutschland singt und klingt

Jutsch Pappetz © Zirkus Schwerin e.V.

ÖXL © Ulrike Pawandenat

Green Milk Project

Keimzeit © Bernd Brundert

TriPod © Stefan Weeber

Highlights in the Volkshochschule

State-wide network meeting on 2 October of the anti-racism movement “Schule ohne Rassismus – Schule mit Courage” in MV: teaching democracy in schools. Debate, exchange, networking.
Exhibition organised by the Federal Foundation for Study of the Communist Dictatorship in Germany. “Friedliche Revolution und Deutsche Einheit kompakt” looks at the global historical framework, developments in east central Europe, the peaceful revolution in the GDR, its self-democratisation and the path to German unity.
“Vereint Segel setzen und Farbe bekennen” – a simulation game workshop for young people to mark German Unity Day. Young people deal with the question of what impact German unity has on them and reflect on their own opportunities for development, co-determination and protest.

Highlights from the Neustädtischer Palais/Goldener Saal

National competition “Jugend musiziert”: enjoy an exceptional concert on German Unity Day in Schwerin. 3 October, 6 pm
Book readings: “Das Mauerschweinchen” by Katja Ludwig for children in grades 4 and 5; “Mein ungebügeltes Leben” by Conny Schramm; “Elbe 511” with Nicole Weis; the Schwerin art project Worttagebau with “Jede Lesung ist ein Unikat”; “… damit zusammenwächst, was zusammenhört’ with Tobias Frank.
Puppet theatre “Bis Mitternacht an der Grenze” by Christoph Buchfink: the story of love on the left and right of the barbed wire.

Highlights at the Kulturforum Schleswig-Holstein Haus

“Was für ein Volk” – a major exhibition to mark the Schwerin Caricature Prize for the German Unity Day 2024.
“Und Sie so?” Improv theatre workshop on everyday German-German life: do we take ourselves far too seriously and are too self-important? The theme here is laughing together – no previous experience or knowledge necessary
“Braucht es ein Ostbewusstsein?” Panel discussion with Kathrin Michel (SPD), Luna Möbius (Greens), Niklas Wagner (JuLis), Marko Schmidt (Revierwende), Jasmin Brückner (author), Jessy James LaFleur (moderator) on 3 October.
“Ost-West Poetry” with the (L)OST POETS, the in-house poetry collective of the Lusatian Spoken Word Academy: East German village style and the spoken word as a weapon in the fight for a better world. A must for poetry lovers and self-confessed country folk.
Re:load Serbski with Jonas Pjetaš: The chief Sorbian from Lusatia teaches the basics of the Sorbian language, reinvents legendary figures and gives tips for the next stage performance.
“Next Generation Ostdeutsch”: panel debate with Phine Ziegler, Tim Jonat, Jonas Pjetaš, Sam Ziemeck, Tabea Wels and Jessy James LaFleur
Comedy & Cabaret: “Die ultimative Ossilesung” with Dominik Bartels & Jörg Schwedler, Max Golenz with his show “Zwischen Pumpen und Pauken”, Jonas Greiner with “Greiner für alle” and Hank M. Flemming performing “Die vorlaute Stimme des Erzgebirges”.
Musik & Concerts: indie pop melodies, singer-songwriter style with Leander from Halle; “Cello in Reflection” with Natasha Jaffe; piano concert “Entgrenzung” with Michael Nickel; feelgood vibes from Saxony with Die Baumschule; Sisters of Poetry x Wortakkord with an “Ost/West Special” with Jessy James LaFleur, Jasmin Brückner, Phine Ziegler and Anna Lisa Azur; hip hop with Miso & Maniac.

Highlights along Puschkinstraße

“Miteinander Schwerin”: The state capital presents itself with its many different associations and institutions along Puschkinstraße
“Seid doch laut”: Performance about the GDR opposition group ‘Women for Peace’ at Puschkinstraße 33 followed by a discussion with eyewitnesses.
Photo lecture: “Von heute auf morgen”. From one day to the next, everything changed for the people of eastern Germany. Photographer Manfred Scharnberg captured images of the upheaval.
EINE FRAGE DER ZEIT – years of change in Schwerin and MV in pictures, a photographic show by Auslöser e.V.
Art Tremondo: unconventionally colourful stilt walk act consisting of four basic geometric shapes and their runaways.
“AllerHand” – a façade project on the rear of Puschkinstr. 44. The artist Tino Bittner has created a series of murals based on paintings in the Schwerin Museum. Unveiling on 2 October at 6.30 pm.
Guided tours of the Schwerin Conservatory, Puschkinstraße 6 (3 October).
Music club meets street music at various locations along Puschkinstraße