Forest gift by Count Gottfried memorialized in Arnsberg through donation event
In the picturesque town of Neheim and the city of Arnsberg, history comes alive as the Donator festivities return this year, commemorating a significant event that occurred over six centuries ago.
The Donator festivities, organised by the Förderverein Altstadt Neheim e.V., will take place at Gransauplatz from 7 PM on Friday, September 19th, 2025, and continue until 11 AM on Saturday, September 20th, 2025. The highlight of the celebrations is scheduled for Saturday, with a series of events designed to honour Count Gottfried IV of Arnsberg and his wife, Anna, who donated a forest to Neheim in 1368 as part of medieval structural policy.
On Saturday, the Graf Gottfried play will be performed by a theatre group from Graf Gottfried School on Gransauplatz at 11 AM, followed by the distribution of traditional sweets by council members. In neighbouring Hüsten, students from Mühlenberg School will perform their Graf Gottfried play on the market square in front of the church at 10:30 AM, also accompanied by a sweet distribution by council members.
The climax of the day will be the thanksgiving service for Count Gottfried and his wife at Sauerland Cathedral St. Johannes Baptist at 5:30 PM.
In addition to the traditional events, the 2025 Donator festivities will also feature the "Graf Gottfried Rocks" event, a music festival that will see local bands such as "4 Murders", "Orange Gold", "New Brand", and "How Many Roads" perform alongside the distribution of sweets and culinary offerings. Admission to the concerts is free.
The next "Graf Gottfried Rocks" event at Gransauplatz is scheduled for 2024. The festivities will also include a social gathering or Donator meal, the details of which are yet to be announced.
A delegation consisting of citizens, council members, ensigns, and students from Graf Gottfried Primary School and Mühlenberg School will visit Cologne Cathedral on Friday, September 19th, for a wreath-laying ceremony for Count Gottfried, who is buried there. The organisation of this ceremony has been taken over by the Neheim St. Johannes Baptist Shooting Brotherhood this year.
The Donator festivities in both Neheim and Hüsten on Saturday, September 20th, will conclude with the public distribution of sweets, a tradition that continues to honour the legacy of Count Gottfried and his wife, Anna.
This year's Donator festivities are a testament to the enduring impact of Count Gottfried's generosity, bringing together the communities of Neheim, Hüsten, and Arnsberg to celebrate a shared history and a shared future.
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