Berliner Volksfestsommer

From the German-French Folk Festival to the Berliner Volksfestsommer

The history of the Berliner Volksfestsommer dates back to the early 1960s. Back then, the Deutsch-Französisches Volksfest (German-French Folk Festival) was launched in West Berlin, a joint event run by French soldiers and Berlin showmen, conceived as a gesture of friendship between the former wartime enemies France and Germany. For decades, the festival drew hundreds of thousands every summer to the fairground on Kurt-Schumacher-Allee in Reinickendorf. After the withdrawal of the French forces in 1994, the Volksfest character was retained and the festival was continued under the name Berliner Volksfestsommer as Berlin's largest folk festival. 2026 sees the 63rd edition.

Around 60 rides for all ages

The heart of the Volksfestsommer is its line-up of around 60 rides, assembled each year from the German fairground industry. Current crowd magnets include the High Explosive roller coaster, the Atlantis Rafting white-water ride and the mobile High Sky Ferris wheel, which offers a panoramic view across Reinickendorf and the Berlin skyline. Classic carousels, bumper cars, ghost trains and a strong kids' section round off the programme – a line-up for families and thrill-seekers alike.

Berlin street food and French traces

The culinary side of the Volksfestsommer reflects its German-French past: crêpe stalls stand right next to bratwurst kiosks, flammkuchen wagons next to Berlin's traditional Schmalzkuchen stands. Several beer gardens, traditional fairground snack stalls and food trucks with current trends offer plenty of choice. Cotton candy, roasted almonds and gingerbread hearts remain part of the festival's DNA.

Fireworks every Friday

A traditional highlight are the fireworks every Friday at 10 p.m. throughout the entire festival period. Above the fairground, the Berlin night sky then opens up for several minutes of colourful pyrotechnics – one of the reasons regulars come back year after year. Wednesday also has special status: as Familientag (Family Day), many rides apply reduced prices.

Reinickendorf and the Zentraler Festplatz

Reinickendorf, in the north of Berlin (federal state of Berlin, district of Reinickendorf), is home to the Zentraler Festplatz, the capital's largest fairground site. Its direct proximity to the A111 motorway and its good public transport connections make the location a fixed summer meeting point for Berliners from every borough, across several generations.