Apoldaer Park- und Heimatfest

100 Years of Apoldaer Park- und Heimatfest

When the carousels spin on the festival grounds at the Herressener Promenade in June, Apolda is in a state of excitement. The Park- und Heimatfest is the city's largest Volksfest — and with its 100-year history (first edition 1926), one of the oldest urban festivals in the Weimarer Land. Back then, the festival, invented by the local beautification association, attracted around 9,000 visitors with illuminated promenades, fireworks, showman stalls, and food stands. After a 15-year hiatus due to World War II and its consequences, the city revived it in 1954 as the "Festival of Ten Thousand Lights" — a name that still shapes the atmosphere today.

Ten Days of Volksfest, Classic Program

Over ten days, showman stalls, rides, food stands, beer gardens, and stages are spread across the festival grounds. The showman stalls open daily from 3 PM. Cover bands, pop stars, and regional music groups perform on the festival stage. The program includes children's days, a dedicated senior's afternoon, and the traditional Family Day on Wednesdays with reduced prices on rides — a special day for many Apolda families.

Fireworks Display on the Second Weekend

The perceived highlight is the Brilliant Fireworks Display on the Saturday evening of the second festival weekend — fired directly over the festival grounds. The promenade serves as a natural viewing point, and thousands stand shoulder to shoulder along the path. Music performances also shape the festival weeks. In recent editions, bands like Stereoact and shows like "Queen classic" have graced the stage — a mix of cover band sound, pop music, and classical crossover programs.

Environment Day and City Runs as Accompanying Program

Embedded in the festival program are an "Environment Day" with children's sports competitions, relay races, and city runs over various distances. Schools and clubs from the Weimarer Land compete against each other — the Park- und Heimatfest is thus also a sports event, not just an amusement park.

Apolda: Bell City Between Weimar and Jena

Apolda is located in the Weimarer Land district, southwest of the Saale river. The city is known as the "Bell City" — the Bell Museum commemorates the centuries-old tradition of bell casting. Those arriving for the Park- und Heimatfest can easily combine their visit with Weimar (Goethe, Schiller, Bauhaus) and Jena (university city with Carl Zeiss Planetarium) — both only 15-20 minutes away by train.