1111 Years Gingen an der Fils — Summer Festival

A Community Celebrates Its 1111th Birthday

Gingen an der Fils was first documented in 915 — as a donation to the Abbey of St. Gallen. At 1111 years, the Filstal community is surpassing a milestone in 2026 that is rarely heard of in Germany, naturally creating a special atmosphere within the local club life. Throughout the entire year 2026, the community in the Göppingen district is organizing a broad anniversary program — from the official ceremony in spring to the summer event on July 31, the central summer festival at Waldheim Gingen.

Summer Festival on July 31 at Waldheim

The summer festival is organized by the Motorradfreunde Gingen an der Fils e.V. in cooperation with the community. Starting at 8:00 PM, residents and guests gather at Waldheim, the traditional club grounds on the outskirts of town. The culinary highlight: 111 beer tokens — essentially beer vouchers — will be distributed to guests so that everyone can enjoy a drink to celebrate the anniversary year. A live band will play, and traditional bratwurst, steaks, and Swabian specialties will complement the offerings.

The Anniversary Year 2026 at a Glance

The entire year 2026 is themed "1111 Years" in Gingen. The community has adopted an official anniversary logo that will be displayed on all printed materials, posters, and banners. Decorative "pearls" (a nod to the nickname "Pearl of the Filstal") will be installed at the town entrances, and citizens are invited to create wooden decorative ornaments for houses and front yards. The summer festival is just one of many events — a festive parade, a festival week, church concerts, and a historical market will complete the program.

Gingen, Pearl of the Filstal

With just under 4,000 inhabitants, Gingen is idyllically situated in the Filstal valley between Geislingen an der Steige and Göppingen. The Romanesque Crypt of the parish church of St. Johannes Baptista is one of the oldest structures in the region and was built in the 11th century. Even at the time of its first documented mention, Gingen was royal property and was disputed for centuries between various abbeys and lordships — a history that will be extensively explored during the 2026 anniversary year.