Discover events, parties and culture in Willingshausen.
At all times in the artists' colony, children were sought after and popular as models among the artists. The children, for their part, enjoyed posing as models. Whether in traditional costume, at the harvest, or while herding geese by the river, the pictures give us an impressive glimpse into childhood here in the Schwalm over the past two centuries. On guided tours for the whole family and in small workshops, what has been seen can be creatively explored further. During Advent, stories and tales about the lives of children in the Schwalm, in the past and today, round off the impressions gained.
TRACING THE PAST An Exhibition on National Socialism in the Schwalm Opening: Saturday, 17/10/2026, 4:00 p.m. Midissage: Sunday, 1/11/2026, 4:00 p.m. Finissage: Sunday, 15/11/2026, 4:00 p.m. Exhibition period: 18/10–15/11/2026 A trace is what remains when someone has gone: an imprint in the ground, a notch in the wood, a name on a gravestone. Anyone who follows a trace tries to form a picture of the past. More than eighty years after the end of National Socialism, there are hardly any people left who can speak about this period from personal experience. What remains are traces in archives, in buildings, and in cemeteries. But how do you read them when there are no eyewitnesses? Best not alone. In the first Summer School of the Kunstverein Stipendium Willingshausen, young people from the region set out together with experts in remembrance work, art, and mediation to trace the past. At the Memorial and Museum Trutzhain, the site of the former prisoner-of-war camp, they learned about its history and worked with archival materials and historical photographs, which they translated into short films. They interviewed documentary filmmaker Klaus Stern and visited the forest cemetery where inmates of the camp are buried. This resulted in texts and images for a magazine as well as the cyanotype that became the motif for the exhibition poster. Traces can also be found in places one passes every day, often unnoticed and sometimes uncomfortably. In the week before the opening, the young people follow them in their immediate surroundings in the third workshop and bring the
When we think of “hidden worlds,” secrets may be the first thing that comes to mind. But we wanted to dig deeper. We were inspired by a text that is over 2,400 years old, yet more relevant than ever: Plato’s Allegory of the Cave. In it, Plato describes people who have been chained in a dark cave since birth. They cannot turn around. The only thing they can see is a wall in front of them. Behind them, a fire burns, and between the fire and the prisoners, figures are carried past. The shadows of these figures fall on the wall. For these people, the shadows are the only reality. They do not know that there is a real, brightly lit world out there. We live in the age of smartphones, television, and social media. Every day we scroll through feeds, see short news snippets, perfectly staged Instagram images, or images generated by artificial intelligence. We stare at displays — the modern cave walls of our time. And far too often, we confuse these digital, filtered shadows with reality itself. We let the modern “puppet masters” — the algorithms of tech companies — dictate what we are supposed to see. This is exactly where our exhibition begins. Photography takes center stage. Not to create yet another quick, superficial image, but to serve as a tool for insight. It aims to slow things down. It seeks to take a look behind the scenes. Werner Thuleweit, coordinator of the Foto-Community Neukirchen A special accompanying program enriches the exhibition with three multimedia presentations: - 01.11. - 5:00 p.m. - Marion Müller - Hidden Worlds in Nature and in the Universe
As part of our exhibition “Muler mul ins mu,” a special workshop on building confidence will take place on Sunday, 15/11/2026. Often we are unsure, shy, and do not dare to play or laugh with others. It is good to have a dear friend by your side who helps you and gives you courage. To this end, we will listen to a fairy tale that tells of friendship, fear, confidence, courage, and very practical help. Inspired by the message of this fairy tale, we will make a little confidence aid together that will accompany us, give us courage, and be fun.
From the Community – For the Community / Concert by Brass Band Hessen On 15 November 2026, a special concert will once again take place in the Antreffhalle in Willingshausen. Following their visit in 2024 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the larger municipality, the 800th anniversary of Zella and the 200th anniversary of the artists’ colony, Hans-Reiner Schmidt is returning to his homeland with his Brass Band Hessen. Under the motto “From the Community – For the Community,” the event once again sends a signal of the close bond between the beautiful Schwalm municipality and its citizens, says Mayor Luca Fritsch. Hans-Reiner Schmidt, the renowned conductor of Brass Band Hessen, comes from Zella. After an impressive musical career that has taken him around the world, he is now returning to his roots. Following the magnificent concert in the anniversary year, he is delighted to be able to make music with Brass Band Hessen for the people of his home community at the place where his musical journey began, and where, at the age of six, he first got a musical instrument in his hands in the brass choir. The band invites its audience on a journey across a wide range of musical genres. Highlights include majestic fanfares, a Spanish wedding and rousing Irish folk music. Schmidt has also prepared a journey through three decades of rock music. This, together with a musical excursion into space, gives the “concert at the boss’s home” its special touch. Great entertainment at this “home game” is guaranteed. Free admission and donations requested Admission to the con
PHILIPPA JOCHIM - WHOEVER A SAYS The exhibition opens on Saturday, 21 November 2026 at 4:00 p.m. at Kunsthalle Willingshausen Closing event: Sunday, 20/12/2026, 12 noon We look forward to your visit! Kunsthalle Willingshausen Merzhäuser Straße 1 34628 Willingshausen Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The village association warmly invites you to a cozy evening in a pre-Christmas atmosphere and to the St. Nicholas market! When? Saturday, 05/12, from 5:00 p.m. Where? In front of Backhausen What to expect: Torchlight hike for the kids Delicious mulled wine for the grown-ups Sausages, Schwälmer Platz, and much more for everyone! Come along and get into the Christmas spirit with us! The village association looks forward to seeing you!
He was an exceptional artist whose songs touched generations — and his work still resonates today. The Dirk Lindemann BigBand brings Udo Jürgens' unforgettable music back to life: not as a mere copy, but in fresh arrangements that let the spirit of the great entertainer shine anew. Dirk Lindemann — pianist, keyboard player, and charismatic frontman from the Schwalm-Eder district — brings together around a dozen first-class musicians on stage. Together they create an exhilarating sound experience: rich big-band sounds, expressive female vocalists, virtuoso soloists, and hits that everyone simply has to know and love. From “Griechischer Wein” to “Aber bitte mit Sahne” and “Ich war noch niemals in New York” — the audience experiences well-known evergreens as well as rarely heard gems from Jürgens' catalog of more than 1,000 songs. There are also musical excursions into other realms — a colorful surprise package that adds even more sparkle to the evening. Experience just over two and a half hours of top-class entertainment with a professional stage show — the perfect way to round off the year at Antreffhalle Willingshausen! Wednesday, December 30, 2026 Antreffhalle Willingshausen
