WACHTENDONK. With colorful lanterns, songs and a festive atmosphere, the St. Martin’s parades will once again be moving through the towns of Wankum, Harzbeck and Wachtendonk-Stadt this year.
On Friday evening, November 7th, the St. Martin’s Day parade starts in Harzbeck at 5:30 p.m. As always, the meeting point is at the old Harzbeck school. Route: Via Harzbecker Straße to Hochheckweg, back via Harzbecker Straße and Vorster Straße, turn again and continue to the Latz-Straeten restaurant. The evening ends there with the St. Martin’s Day celebration and a traditional bag auction.
In Wankum, the St. Martin’s Day procession begins on Saturday, November 8th, at 5 p.m. with a small ceremony in St. Martin’s Church. St. Martin then parades through the streets on horseback. Route: Landfriedensstraße, Straelener Straße, Speestrasse, Venloer Straße, Landfriedensstraße, Rochusweg, Auf dem Kuckuck, Marienstraße, Ostkamp, Marienstraße, Landfriedensstraße, Bröhlstraße, fire station.
The St. Martin’s fire awaits visitors there with the traditional sharing of the mantle. Then we continue to the elementary school, where the school children receive their St. Martin’s bags. All other children get their bags directly at the fire station. Teachers, educators and the St. Martin’s Committee ask that participants line up at the end of the procession – this way the groups of children can stay together undisturbed. This year the most beautiful houses, neighborhoods or streets will be honored again. The St. Martin’s Committee is looking forward to many creative window pictures, torches, fairy lights and candles.
On Tuesday, November 11th, the children will take part in the big St. Martin’s parade through Wachtendonk city center from 5:30 p.m. Train route: Schoelkensdyck schoolyard, Laerheider Weg, Wankumer Straße to the Haus im Hagenland senior housing complex. After the turnaround, the train leads back over Wankumer Straße to Bruchstraße, Neustraße, Mühlenstraße, Weinstraße, Bruchstraße, Klosterstraße, Wall, Kirchplatz (the St. Martin’s speech takes place here), Kirchstraße and Feldstraße to Friedensplatz. Here the St. Martin’s fire blazes and the sharing of the coat is celebrated. At the end, the procession moves along Moorenstrasse to the elementary school. The St. Martin’s bags are waiting for the children at the Michael School.
