Central celebration of German Unity Day in Bremen

Germany's political leaders and thousands of visitors are coming to the smallest federal state this weekend. There is a lot going on in Bremen on German Unity Day.

The central festival for German Unity Day is celebrated in Bremen. Photo: Sina Schuldt/dpa

Bremen. Numerous high-ranking politicians will celebrate German Unity Day in Bremen. In addition to the Federal President, the President of the Bundestag and the Federal Chancellor, ministers and state premiers have also announced their presence.

They celebrate an ecumenical celebratory service in Bremen Cathedral with numerous other invited guests. They then attend the official ceremony in the “Die Glocke” concert hall, moderated by actress Katja Riemann. Since Bremen currently holds the presidency of the Federal Council, the central festival is in the Hanseatic city. The motto of the celebrations is “Many Strengths – One Country”.

Festival with around 800 events and well-known bands

The holiday will be celebrated with a large community festival until Sunday, at which more than 400,000 people are expected. There are numerous stands and stages set up in the city center and on the banks of the Weser. A total of around 800 events are planned as part of the festival - in addition to free concerts, discussions, guided tours and exhibitions. Buses and trains in the city and surrounding areas are free on weekends.

Many organizations and institutions show their work on the festival grounds - including the constitutional bodies Bundesrat, Bundestag, Federal Government and Federal Constitutional Court. 15 federal states present themselves on the “State Mile” on the Osterdeich. The two-city state is hosting the celebrations in several areas in the city center. It's about space travel and mobility, about science and innovations, about Bremen and Bremerhaven, as the organizers announced.

Police deploy many officers and set up barriers

The Fantastischen Vier, Flo Mega and MiA will perform on Saturday evening. For security reasons, zero-euro tickets were given out for the Fantastischen Vier's performance. As part of the celebrations, visitors can experience singer Kamrad and the band Versengold live on Sunday.

To ensure security, numerous police officers and police officers from different federal states are in the city. The federal police are also on duty - for example at train stations and at Bremen Airport. Many squares and streets are secured with mobile barriers, and some areas are monitored with cameras.