- The toy village of Seiffen is the traditional centre of Erzgebirge arts and crafts* and the only training location for the profession of wooden toy maker.
- More than 40 international wooden toy makers meet at the specialist forum in Seiffen and invite interested parties to the first European festival with around 50 stations.
- Visit by Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer on Saturday, 30 August
From 29 to 31 August 2025, the first European Toymaking Festival will take place in Seiffen, one of the 38 locations in the Capital of Culture Region. Traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design will come together in Seiffen, a centre of Erzgebirge folk art*. The festival venue is a former swimming pool, which is opening its doors again for the first time after being empty for 20 years.
The public will discover traditional, contemporary and European arts and crafts at experience stations and in open workshops and museums throughout the town. Workshops, lectures, concerts and other highlights round off the programme.
Living tradition
The Erzgebirge's wooden art with toys, angels, miners and smokers looks back on a centuries-old tradition. Even in the late Middle Ages, mining was the economic engine of the region. As mining became increasingly difficult, handicrafts became an important second source of income for many families.
Since this year, handicrafts from the Ore Mountains have been recognised as intangible cultural heritage in Germany. This tradition is kept alive in the toy village of Seiffen, which is home to the only training centre for wooden toy makers. On Saturday and Sunday, trainees demonstrate their skills in front of an audience.
International guests and local masters
In addition to the public programme, the focus is on professional exchange. The festival aims to connect traditional businesses with young designers and international partners. The "Tradition and Form" award will be presented at the start of the festival.
The guests include:
- Maho Ito (Japan), who learnt in Seiffen and combines German wooden toy expertise with Japanese aesthetics
- Grapat (Spain), a family business that produces turned wooden toys and shares its expertise with German colleagues → Website
- Emma Brix (Germany), a young award-winning industrial designer and graduate of Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle, who combines modern forms with traditional craftsmanship → Website
Renowned traditional companies from the region are also represented, such as Wendt & Kühn from Grünhainichen with their iconic angel figurines and Sina from Neuhausen, a family business that has been making wooden toys in the Ore Mountains for decades.
In total, more than 40 workshops, manufactories and design studios from over 10 countries, including Spain, Poland, Portugal, Austria and Germany, are taking part.
The festival is organised by the municipality of Seiffen and the DENKSTATT Erzgebirge, which develops new approaches in design, sales and marketing and aims to bring the art of wooden toys to the next generation. The Toymaking Festival is part of the Capital of Culture programme and is supported by the Chemnitz 2025 main project Makers, Business & Artswhich builds bridges between creative makers, art, business and tourism.
Press invitation
Opening of the European Toymaking Festival
The Toymaking Festival will be opened on Friday, 29 August 2025 at 6 pm in the presence of the Saxon Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, Barbara Klepsch.
Hauptstraße 156, 09548 Kurort Seiffen/Erzgeb.
Visit by the Prime Minister of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer
On Saturday, 30 August, from 12.30 pm to 2 pm , the Prime Minister of the Free State of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, will visit the Toymakers' Festival.
Hauptstraße 156, 09548 Kurort Seiffen/Erzgeb.
Programme
Friday, 29 August 2025
10:00-17:00 Specialist forum for wooden toys
17:00-18:00 Award ceremony "Tradition and Form"
18:00-19:00 Opening of the festival and venue
19:00-02:00 Live music and DJ set
Saturday, 30 August 2025
10:00-18:00 Creative stations, workshops, live music, marketplace, street food
18:00-02:00 Live music and DJ set
Sunday, 31 August 2025
10:00-18:00 Creative stations, children's programme, auction, music and street food
Venue: Hauptstraße 156, 09548 Kurort Seiffen/Erzgeb.
It is recommended to buy tickets online in advance, as the swimming pool only has limited capacity. → Tickets here
* Erzgebirgisches Kunsthandwerk and Erzgebirgische Volkskunst are registered trademarks of the Association of Erzgebirgische Kunsthandwerker und Spielzeughersteller e.V.
