Herzogenaurach Old Town Festival

Three Days of Old Town Festival in the Heart of Middle Franconia

The Herzogenaurach Old Town Festival is one of the fixed summer dates in the Erlangen-Höchstadt district. Every year on the weekend after Corpus Christi, the town of Herzogenaurach in Bavaria opens its old town for three days full of music, crafts, club life, and conviviality. The market square, the main street, and the castle courtyard become a car-free festival mile where locals and guests celebrate Franconian lifestyle together.

Program on Several Stages

The focus of the festival is on several stages in the market square and the castle courtyard. Bands from the region and the Herzogenaurach city youth band provide a varied musical program ranging from Franconian brass music, pop, rock, and cover bands. Open-air concerts regularly take place in the atmospheric castle courtyard, offering a special setting for balmy summer evenings.

Crafts, Clubs, and Partner Cities

A second pillar of the Old Town Festival is the presentation of civic life. Clubs, initiatives, and Herzogenaurach's partner cities introduce themselves at information booths, showcasing culture, traditions, and regional specialties. Craftsmen demonstrate traditional techniques such as pottery, woodturning, and basket weaving, and sell their work directly at the market square.

Family-Friendly and Culinary

There is a dedicated children's program with hands-on activities, children's theater, and play opportunities. Culinary offerings range from Franconian sausages, Schäufele (pork shoulder), and Steckerlfisch (grilled fish on a stick) to vegetarian specialties and sweets like crêpes and gingerbread hearts. Local beers and Franconian wines are also served – the Old Town Festival is also a small culinary journey through the region.

Sunday with Open Shops

On Sunday, the Old Town Festival combines with a Sunday with open shops: shops throughout the city open their doors from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. This allows the festival visit to be easily combined with a relaxed shopping spree through Herzogenaurach's city center.

Tradition and Atmosphere

The festival is organized by the City of Herzogenaurach, Office for City Marketing and Culture. Admission is free. The Old Town Festival is considered a reflection of Herzogenaurach: between global corporate headquarters like Adidas and Puma and a small-town-like old town, a very unique mix of global openness and Franconian down-to-earthness emerges.