Bischofsheim in the Rhön Town Festival

The Town Festival of the Rhön Town

Bischofsheim in the Rhön, affectionately called “Böschem” by locals, is a small town in the Rhön-Grabfeld district, located in the heart of the Bavarian Rhön between Kreuzberg and Wasserkuppe. Once a year, the town celebrates its grand town festival, officially named “Böschemer Stadtfest,” traditionally held on the second-to-last weekend of July.

Saturday Evening: Service, Beer Tapping, Concerts

The festival kicks off on Saturday at 4 PM with an ecumenical service with choir accompaniment in the market square. One hour later, the official opening and beer tapping ceremony take place. The evening is marked by live concerts – in 2025 featuring the bands “Die Osgarlich” and “Gisela Fellenstein” – and cozy get-togethers with Rhön specialties.

Sunday: Family Program and Town Bet

Sunday starts at 11 AM with performances by local bands. Simultaneously, a children's flea market will be held in Löwenstraße, a general flea market at Kirchplatz, and a mobile ski jump allowing children to try jumping onto a mat. Highlights in the afternoon include a dance performance by the youth group “Tanzmäuse” at 1:15 PM and at 2 PM, the famous town bet, where the residents of Bischofsheim compete against representatives from neighboring communities.

Rhön Charm

The culinary selection ranges from classic bratwurst and hearty Rhön dishes to coffee and cake. Several bands alternate between brass music and rock. In the late afternoon (3–4:30 PM) and evening (from 6 PM with an oldies band), the program maintains its pace – a town festival that consciously remains family-friendly yet festive.

Rhön-Grabfeld and the Bavarian Rhönland

Bischofsheim is a starting point for hikes to the Wasserkuppe (Hesse's highest peak) and the Kreuzberg, the holy mountain of the Rhön with its monastery brewery. Visitors to the town festival will find themselves surrounded by the Bavarian Rhönland – ideal for an extended weekend.