Hello kale! Oldenburg celebrates the start of the season with a huge city festival

Hello kale! Oldenburg celebrates the start of the season with a huge city festival

The first frost has touched the fields of the north, and that means only one thing: kale season is open! On Sunday, October 30, 2025, Oldenburg will start the culinary season of winter with the traditional city festival “Hello Kale”. From 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., the North German specialty is celebrated in a variety of ways. This day is all about the green gold!

Are you curious about what awaits you? From kale ice cream to fish rolls with kale to Greek pita or moussaka with the popular cabbage - the creative preparations leave nothing to be desired. Those who like culinary delights can also look forward to kale sushi and the non-alcoholic cocktail “kale smash”. Of course there is also a regional beer with a special twist: the addition of kale. It will be festive and visitors can look forward to a real feast for the senses!

Tradition meets entertainment

The city festival not only offers culinary delicacies, but also an entertaining supporting program. Activities such as kale bingo, concerts and numerous hands-on activities are planned. The free photo box, cabbage drive games and the opportunity to create friendship bracelets promise fun for young and old. Several thousand visitors are expected to come and enjoy the atmosphere and community spirit.

But what would kale be without its traditions? Especially in northern Germany, kale is an indispensable part of the cold season. Harvested after the first frost, it is traditionally enjoyed with sausages, after-work beer and a happy get-together. A typical kale drive combines hikes, games and the traditional kale meal in a friendly atmosphere, with participants often pulling the grain cart with alcoholic drinks. This tradition is upheld in cities and regions such as Bremen, Hamburg, and East Frisia, where eating kale is a fixed ritual.

A North German cultural asset

The dish “kale and pee”, a sausage of regional importance, is particularly popular in East Frisia. Pinkel, also known as Bregenwurst or Grützwurst, is typically served with boiled, braised kale. The side dishes for these hearty dishes are usually boiled or caramelized potatoes, which round off the nutritious dinner.

No kale meal is complete without a climax in the form of the proclamation of the Kale King. This title and the honor that comes with it are often given to the person who has eaten the most portions or been most successful at certain games. The entire event is a celebration of community and culture, in which the so-called Kohlfahrten – outdoor activities with a cozy get-together in local pubs – also have a prominent place.

A special circumstance will also be honored at this year's festival: the Prime Minister of Schleswig-Holstein will take over from Boris Pistorius at the “Gröönkohl-Äten” in Berlin. This shows how firmly rooted kale is in northern German culture and how it remains popular beyond the region.

In the exciting time of the start of the kale season, numerous village pubs and clubs invite you to take part in the festivities. The anticipation of the upcoming kale dinners can be felt everywhere, because the communal celebrations and traditions enrich life in the region. Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this wonderful tradition!

We look forward to seeing you at “Hello Kale” in Oldenburg! Let winter come, because with kale in your heart nothing can go wrong!

For more information and details about the event, check out NDR over or discover the recipes and traditions of kale The Spruce Eats and Wikipedia.