The Wild West has been located in the south of the Sauerland for more than half a century: Much has changed since "Winnetou", a play by Karl May, was first performed here in 1958. The small folk stage has become one of the largest and most modern show and festival parks in Europe, with a unique western backdrop and a 16-metre high waterfall. Around the stage, a rodeo arena, music, acrobatic and equestrian shows, barber store, saloon, drugstore and gastronomic experiences offer plenty of variety for a day trip to the theater.
But Winnetou has remained. The highlight of every visit to Elspe is and remains the performance of a Karl May classic such as "The Treasure in Silver Lake", "In the Valley of Death", "Among Vultures" or "The Oil Prince". And it's a spectacle every time. When a spewing volcano shakes the stage, the old steam train rattles through the picture, humans and animals engage in wild chases or even an entire mine is blown up, it's not just the young audience that is thrilled.
Three-month festival season
The Elspe Festival has already attracted more than twelve million visitors. Numerous prominent actors, such as Pierre Brice in the 1980s, have also appeared on the open-air stage in the Sauerland region. 60 performers slip into the roles of cowboys, Indians and bandits at each performance and create a Western atmosphere. The festival season lasts three months, from June to September. But there is also plenty going on here during the rest of the year: concerts and shows regularly take place on the Elspe Festival grounds, as well as occasional film shoots.
