Adorf/Vogtland Town and Trade Fair

Folk Festival in the Upper Vogtland

Adorf is situated in the upper Vogtland region, close to the Czech border, in the Vogtland district of Saxony. This small town of around 4,800 inhabitants is surrounded by the dense forests of the Vogtland and has shaped the region for centuries through musical instrument making (bow makers, violin makers in Markneukirchen are nearby), lace-making, and tourism. The Town and Trade Fair is the social highlight of the year, bringing together the citizens of the town and the surrounding Vogtland villages in the market square for three days.

Trade Exhibition of Local Businesses

A special feature is the trade exhibition in the market square and adjacent streets. Local craft businesses, shops, service providers, and clubs present themselves at stalls and pavilions, often with hands-on activities or demonstrations. The trade fair integrates the festival into the town's economy – the club's name VFC Adorf (Verein für Förderung des Gewerbes Adorf - Association for the Promotion of Trade Adorf) indicates that the festival historically originated from the connection between the community and local businesses. Sponsors like the Sternquell brewery from Plauen provide financial and logistical support for its success.

Truck Pulling 'Everyone Pulls Together'

The highlight of the festival weekend is the truck-pulling spectacle 'Alle ziehen an einem Strang' (Everyone Pulls Together) on Freiberger Straße. Teams from local clubs, fire departments, and businesses pull a truck over a set distance, competing for the fastest time. This discipline is a mix of popular sport and spectacle – it combines strength, team spirit, and entertainment, and has been the crowd-pulling highlight of the town festival for years.

Stages and Dance Groups

Several stages are spread across the market square and Hellgasse: the main stage with live bands and DJ sets, a second stage for local dance groups, and a smaller one for children's programs. Tango groups from Plauen (Tango Club Plauen), carnival clubs (Adorfer Carneval Club), local bands from the Vogtland, and cover bands perform on these stages. The program is intentionally broad – ranging from Schlager and folk music to rock – to appeal to all generations.

Family Program

For children and families, the festival offers a bike course on the festival grounds, play areas, face painting, a children's disco, and performances by local carnival clubs. The Adorf fire department also participates with demonstrations – a nod to the historical connection between the town festival and the fire department, which was also evident in past years during the 150th-anniversary celebration of the fire department.