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From the fairytale queen to the song contest: Steinau has presented its culture and tourism program for 2026 in the adventure park.
Steinau – “May makes everything new,” as the saying goes. Steinauers involved in tourism and the mayors of the region did not want to wait that long. During a press conference in the adventure park on Thursday – i.e. at the end of March – they presented the cultural, artistic and tourist program for 2026 – and that in perfect April weather.
Traditionally, this press conference takes place in the adventure park shortly before the start of the season. Steffen Eckel therefore started the round of speakers and announced the motto of the 2026 season starting on Saturday (March 28th). This is called “Herzlich Hessisch” and is the 80th anniversary of the state dedicated. Until the end of October, the park is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., from May to August from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and daily during the holidays.
Steinau presents the 2026 culture and tourism program
Hesse's milestone birthday was also mentioned by Elena Gold, who, as branch manager of the State Palaces and Gardens of Hesse, is the lady of the castle in Steinau. The state authority has also existed for 80 years, which will be honored with just as many lectures. There will be some of these in Steinau Castle, combined with expert tours. “Under the title Sundays with the Grimms, we will be offering events for the whole family. While the parents listen to a lecture, I will lead the children through the castle and Margot Dernesch will tell fairy tales in special places,” Gold made curious. Dernesch herself revealed a little later that she would tell fairy tales on the tower, in the prison or in the basement of the castle.
Dernesch reported that she wanted to promote the telling of fairy tales together with the Main-Kinzig district. “In the district, only Steinau is a Brothers Grimm town. In cooperation with the school authority, school classes should be able to draw on a pool of narrators,” explained Dernesch. Such people could come forward and should be trained. There are also plans to tell fairy tales in “great locations”.
Stefanie Dallmann, director of the Brothers Grimm House and the Steinau Museum, initially used these to promote the application to become the Steinau Fairy Tale Queen. Young women from the Brothers Grimm city can apply until April 12th. Dallmann: “My ideal idea is that a fairy tale queen will gradually come from every part of the city.” This will be crowned during the Fairytale Fountain Festival on June 21st. Offers such as the red sofa in the foyer of the Brothers Grimm House or the fairy tale rally will continue to be offered and public tours of the house will take place regularly again. This year, however, the focus will be on the Steinau Museum, where a “small series of lectures” and “puzzle rallies through the house” are planned. Another attempt should be made to perform the Grimm musical in the open air in the district court after it had to be moved to the St. Catherine's Church at short notice in 2025. Fairytale Sunday is dedicated to the fairy tale “Little Brother and Sister”.
City guide Mariele Syllwasschy reported on her experiences – and the desire of many guests for additional dining options in Steinau's old town. Kirsten Ranft from the Alte Apotheke literary café referred to the regular readings and music evenings in her house. She is considering offering her reading room on the upper floor for private meetings, for example to read together. There is already one event that Felicitas Broj announced: the Steinau Vision Song Contest. The spectacle with a musical competition between all Steinau districts is scheduled to take place for the third time on August 8th in the outdoor swimming pool in the city center. The application deadline is currently running. Bands are welcome to come from neighboring communities – and take on sponsorship for a district.
Four markets are planned to return to Steinau over the course of the year. Christoph Biegl from the city administration announced the Jockesmarkt for June 20th with a public viewing of the second World Cup preliminary round game of the German national soccer team against Ivory Coast.
The Medieval Market follows on August 22nd and 23rd. Here the market master had the positive news that “demand is as high as it was before the corona pandemic. We are expanding the area from Hirschgraben and Kumpen to Brüder-Grimm-Straße in the direction of the Amthaus.” In addition, the large army camp on the Mauerwiese begins on August 17th with 80 to 100 groups. Biegl: “Guests and kindergartens are happy to be given an insight into medieval life.” The Katharinenmarkt from October 15th to 18th and the Christmas market from November 27th to 29th should take place as usual.
Claudia Dorn from the Steinau tourist office pointed out the open city tour on Saturday, March 28th, under the motto “With open eyes through Steinau” and of course all the other tours that are listed on the city’s homepage at steinau.eu. Highlights this year are the Steinau Organ Summer with six concerts from June 3rd to 13th and the 32nd Steinau Puppet Show Days from September 19th to 27th “including a long night of puppet theater for children and adults”. Steinau is also taking part in the city cycling campaign again – this time from May 9th to 29th.
