Sunnemeerten Parade

About this event

Sint Maarten (Saint Martin) has been the patron saint of Groningen for centuries. In the Groningen dialect he is called Sunnemeerten, and since last year the city has had its own light parade to celebrate him. As soon as it gets dark, a procession of large and small light sculptures winds its way through the centre, with music, dance and performance along the way. The parade ends at the Grote Markt.

The sculptures are made of willow twigs, rattan and rice paper, and locals designed and built them themselves. That happened in Sunnemeerten workshops spread across the city, together with schools and organisations such as COA, ZINN and Quiet Groningen. The idea comes from the Sint Maartensparade in Utrecht. At the first Groningen edition, around six hundred people took part.

Find a spot along the route and watch the centre light up for one evening.