Editing Balve (section)

==Culture==

===Performing arts===
[[Image:Jedermann fbh.jpg|thumb|right|''Jedermann'' (2005)]]
The ''Männerchor 1860 Balve'' is the largest choir in Balve. Other choirs include the ''Männerchor Garbeck'' and ''MC Cäcilia Volkringhausen''. The town's bands include ''Musikverein Balve'' and ''Musikverein Garbeck''.{{citation needed|date=August 2008}}

Until 2005, the organization ''Festpiele Balver Höhle'' and the town of Balve have jointly hosted a [[jazz]] festival.{{citation needed|date=August 2008}} Acts at the festival have included performances by [[Jan Garbarek]] and by [[Piirpauke]]. One of the theatre ensembles in Balve is the ''Kolpingtheatergruppe'', directed by [[Christoph Rapp]]. Another form of entertainment, the [[Balver Märchenwochen]], involves performing fairy tales at Christmas.

===Festivals===
{{main|Festspiele Balver Höhle}}
The ''Festspiele Balver Höhle'' is held at the [[Balver Höhle]], a cave in Balve. The festival is a major focus of the culture in and around the town, featuring music and theatre performances. The only marksmen's festival, ''[[Schützenfest]]'', is also held in a cave, and is organized by ''Schützenbruderschaft St. Sebastian''.

A large bonfire on Easter Sunday is another tradition in Balve, organized by the ''[[Kolping]]sfamilie Balve''. On May 1 each year the [[fire brigade]] of Balve is invited to the ''Feuerwehrfest'', and for 20 years a [[christmas market]] has organized by ''Balver Fachhandel'' that features a live nativity scene.