Blaulichthockete Dettingen an der Erms

Three Aid Organizations, One Festival

The Blaulichthockete in Dettingen an der Erms is a thoroughly Swabian format: a Hocketse (also: Hockete) — Swabian term for a Volksfest with seating, catering, and conviviality — jointly organized by three local aid organizations. The Volunteer Fire Brigade Dettingen, the DLRG local chapter Dettingen, and the DRK local association Dettingen are joining forces for three days of festivities at the fire station. The double meaning in the name "Blaulichthockete" is part of the program: the blue emergency light of the vehicles AND the Hocketse of the three clubs.

Three Days of Program — Catering, Vehicle Exhibition, Music

The festival runs from Friday, September 11th to Sunday, September 13th, 2026. Friday evening typically features a relaxed aperitif kickoff with initial live programming, Saturday the main festival program with daytime activities, a vehicle exhibition of the three organizations, and evening live music, and Sunday a family-friendly closing event with a Frühschoppen (morning pint) and hands-on activities for children.

A characteristic feature is the vehicle exhibition: fire engines from the FFW Dettingen, rescue boats and water rescue equipment from the DLRG, ambulances and first-aid vehicles from the DRK will be presented, with demonstrations showing exercises and operational procedures. For children, there are hands-on stations — vehicles to see and touch, practicing bandaging, learning swimming techniques.

Swabian Hocketse Culture

The Hocketse is a Swabian form of celebration: not a classic funfair with rides, not Karneval, but a cozy open-air summer festival with tables, benches, beer service, wine, Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli), Bratwurst (sausage), and Linsen mit Spätzle (lentils with dumplings). The music usually comes from a local dance or brass band. The atmosphere is deliberately calm and convivial — the "Hocken" (linguistically related to "sitting") is part of the program. The Blaulichthockete in Dettingen follows this tradition with catering, club stands, and a clearly recognizable social character — the proceeds support the club activities of the three organizations.

Dettingen an der Erms — Municipality in the Reutlingen District

Dettingen an der Erms is a municipality with around 9,500 inhabitants in the Reutlingen district in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located in the Erms valley at the transition to the Swabian Jura. The municipality is known regionally for its Ermsthal-Bad (thermal bath) and the local history museum with blacksmith demonstrations. The Blaulichthockete is part of Dettingen's dense club life — alongside Neighborhood Day in May, Family Day on the Roßfeld on the same September weekend, Arts and Crafts Market in October, and Christmas Market in November.