Europe and Music Festival at the Kurti

COLORFUL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY ROCKS EUROPE
The Grenzenlos e.V. association, together with many partner organizations, invites you to a big European and music festival at Kurti—on Sunday, May 17, 2026, starting at 2:00 p.m.

Under the motto “Colorful Republic of Germany Rocks Europe,” this special day will not only celebrate Europe’s cultural diversity —the festival is also a passionate tribute to Udo Lindenberg, arguably the most colorful and loudest “Panikpräsident” of the Republic, who celebrates his 80th birthday on May 17.

Starting at 2:00 p.m., visitors can look forward to a colorful stage program, during which the participating artists will also perform songs by Udo Lindenberg as part of their repertoires. In addition, there will be many activity and information booths, activities for children, food and drink options, and a few surprises. Several one-of-a-kind items will also be auctioned off. A festival for the whole family awaits visitors.

The full program of events and stage performances will be released in early May, but the basic outline is already in place.

The following performers have already confirmed their participation in the “Bunte Republik Rocks Europe – 80 Years, No Panic – Udo Meets the Europafest” event:

Mayor Jörg von Borczyskowski and EU City Councilmember Susanne Reinhoffer will deliver opening remarks. The Driland Big Band, the Klangvoll choir, the Hitparadentrio, the Ukrainian women’s vocal group, the DRK Family Center “Zum Regenbogenland,” and the DRK Family Center “Die Kleine Strolche” have confirmed their participation in the stage performances and have already announced the Lindenberg songs they will perform. A highlight on stage will follow at 5:00 p.m., when Mr. Panik takes the stage to close out the event by performing Udo Lindenberg’s most famous songs with a voice that sounds astonishingly similar to the original.

Hanspeter Dickel will be setting up his book market, Marcel in der Au will be bringing his Honecker Trabi and Udoauto for a car photo op. A wide variety of organizations have already signed up to set up information and activity booths.

Other participants are invited to contact the organizers, and the complete festival program will be published in early May.

In addition, everyone is invited to a flea market at Kurti; those interested can register at info@drk-kita-gronau.de.

Daycare centers, schools, and interested children and teenagers are invited to participate in a creative contest on the theme and figure of “Udo Lindenberg.” Entries can be submitted to Cafe Grenzenlos by the end of April, along with the participants’ contact information and ages.

Photo: Erich Schwartze, Reinhard and Manuela van Loh, and Birgit Hüsing-Hackfort are busy preparing for the upcoming Europe Festival.