Walpurgis Night in Altenau (April 30)
Every April 30th the entire Harz erupts in Germany's most exuberant folk celebration: Walpurgisnacht, when locals dress as witches and warlocks, bonfires blaze on every hillside and the air smells of pine smoke and mulled wine. Altenau hosts one of the most genuine, least-touristy versions of the festival, centred on a huge bonfire at the edge of town with live folk music and dancing.
The Festival in Altenau
Unlike the heavily commercialised celebrations in Thale or Wernigerode, Altenau's Walpurgis Night retains a village-fête warmth — locals outnumber tourists, children run around in hand-sewn witch costumes, and the bonfire is lit with ceremony just after dusk. Food stalls sell Harzer Bratwurst, potato fritters (Reibekuchen) and hot Glühwein from early evening.
The tradition derives from pre-Christian spring rites later blended with Christian feast days and given literary immortality by Goethe in Faust, where witches fly to the Brocken on this night. Looking up at the Brocken's silhouette from Altenau as the bonfire crackles is genuinely atmospheric.
Combining with a Brocken Midnight Hike
Hardcore celebrants hike up to the Brocken summit overnight on April 30th to watch the sunrise on May 1st — a tradition that draws thousands across the Harz. The Torfhaus–Brocken route is safest in the dark and the summit hosts its own bonfire and live music from around 22:00.
Book accommodation in Altenau months in advance for Walpurgis weekend: the town fills completely. The Ringhotel Zum Harzer Jäger on Hindenburgstraße and several private Ferienwohnungen are the most central options.
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