18th Brunnenfest Pfaffengrund 2026

Pfaffengrund — Heidelberg's charming industrial district

The district of Pfaffengrund is located in the west of Heidelberg, between Wieblingen and Kirchheim, east of the Heidelberg-Wieblingen-West industrial area. With around 9,000 inhabitants, Pfaffengrund is one of Heidelberg's traditional working-class districts, characterized by the nearby industrial companies (HeidelbergCement, former mechanical engineering tradition) and a distinctive mix of apartment buildings, factory housing, and single-family homes. The district has a vibrant club life — the Stadtteilverein Heidelberg-Pfaffengrund e.V. has been coordinating it for decades.

The Brunnenfest — 18th Edition in 2026

The Brunnenfest is the district's annual summer festival — the 18th edition will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026. The venue is Schulplatz Pfaffengrund, the central square by the Bonhoeffer elementary school and the Pfaffengrunder Brunnen (fountain) — the namesake of the festival. It starts at 11 AM with the ceremonial barrel tapping.

Festival Opening with Brass Band and Singing Club

The musical opening will be provided by the Heidelberger Blasmusikanten — the region's traditional brass band — and the Gesangverein Frohsinn Pfaffengrund, one of the district's oldest clubs. The board of the district association will welcome the guests, and the mayor or a representative of the City of Heidelberg is traditionally present. The barrel tapping is done with a few taps — the first mugs go to the festival grounds.

Colorful Family Program

The Brunnenfest is explicitly a family festival — the entire Schulplatz will be used for seating areas, a stage, game stations, market stalls, and catering areas:

• Children's program with bouncy castles, face painting stations, craft tables, games
• Club stalls from Pfaffengrund clubs — sports club, fire department, church communities, kindergartens
• Culinary delights: grilled sausages, fries, salads, homemade cakes, ice cream, along with beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks
• Musical program in the afternoon and evening — local bands, cover artists, dance groups

The Pfaffengrunder Brunnen

The festival's name derives from the historic Pfaffengrunder Brunnen (fountain) at Schulplatz — a cast-iron fountain from the 19th century that marks the center of the square. Fountains were important meeting points in Heidelberg's districts for a long time; the Brunnenfest revives this tradition. For the festival, the fountain is decorated with flowers and garlands — a popular photo opportunity for festival-goers.