Cowboy hats, suede vests with fringe, checkered fabric shirts, and cool belt buckles – all of this is part of the cityscape in Bad Segeberg's shopping street once a year. Then, the pedestrian zone turns into the Main Street of a genuine Western town: On Saturday, August 9, the event "A City Plays Karl May" takes place. A colorful program awaits customers and passersby, with the highlight being the appearance of the ensemble from the Karl May Games during a autograph session. The event is organized by the city of Bad Segeberg and Kalkberg GmbH along with numerous businesses.
Winnetou and Old Shatterhand, a.k.a. Alexander Klaws and Bastian Semm – here in a photo from 2023 – will be busy signing autographs at "A City Plays Karl May".
The title recalls the early days of the Karl May Games, which were launched in 1952 and are taking place for the 72nd time this summer. In the beginning, many residents of Bad Segeberg not only participated as extras but also carved tomahawks, sewed costumes, lent their horses as noble mustangs, learned dances, and assisted the team in advertising. This sense of community comes alive year after year in the city center when the Wild West makes its appearance.
Small skill games in Wild West style are, of course, a must.
The Tourist Information of the city of Bad Segeberg has organized a stage that will be located in front of the VR Bank at the corner of Kirchstraße / Kurhausstraße. The stage program there is made possible with the support of M & H – Das Segeberger Modehaus. Thus, fans of authentic country music will get their fill. From 10:30 AM to 12:15 PM and from 12:45 PM to 2:00 PM, the band "Jenny & Friends" from Hamburg brings the vibe of Arizona to the Kalkberg city.
Additionally, the Linedance group "White Mountain" from MTV Segeberg will make their big appearance on stage from 12:15 PM to 12:45 PM. The Tourist Information itself is represented with an info stand at the stage and informs visitors about all the possibilities that are available to vacationers in the Segeberger holiday region. At the interactive stand of S.O.F.A. GmbH, visitors can prove their Wild West skills by horseshoe and lasso throwing.
For many Winnetou fans, the climax of the event takes place from 11 AM to 12 PM: the ensemble of the Karl May Games comes down from Kalkberg to the city and holds an autograph session in the pedestrian zone. The eleven actors from the adventure "Halbblut" can be found at five stations along Hamburger Straße: Alexander Klaws ("Winnetou"), Francis Fulton-Smith ("Charles Leveret"), Sonja Kirchberger ("Donna Leveret"), Bastian Semm ("Old Shatterhand"), Sascha Hödl ("Ik Senanda"), Joshy Peters ("Tokvi-Kava"), Dustin Semmelrogge ("Jeremy Swan"), Harald P. Wieczorek ("Majestät"), Alexis Kara ("Dr. Jefferson Hartley"), Stephan A. Tölle ("Professor Kasimir Obadja Timpe"), and Alina Arenz ("Sally Ann").
The country band Jenny & Friends provides the appropriate sound in the pedestrian zone.
The promotion team of Kalkberg GmbH distributes headbands with feathers to the visitors. Furthermore, everyone has a great chance of winning an exciting prize at the prize wheel – for example, a free ticket for "Halbblut". Additionally, the Karl May Games have invited the company Räuberevents to Bad Segeberg. At their stand, little craft fans can let their creativity flow.
