77th Bühler Zwetschgenfest

Plum City Celebrates Its Fruit

Bühl in the Rastatt district has officially held the title "Zwetschgenstadt" (Plum City) since 2023 — an acknowledgment of over a century of cultivation, processing, and marketing of the Bühler Frühzwetschge, one of the most famous plum varieties in Central Europe. After World War I, the marketing of this variety helped the town achieve economic upswing. The Bühler Zwetschgenfest, founded in 1949, is the celebration of this identity.

2026 — Four Days of Festival Mile

From Thursday, September 10, to Monday, September 14, 2026, the entire city center of Bühl will become a festival mile. Four days of events, three music stages, a festival tent in the Stadtgarten (city park), a Weindorf (wine village) with Markgräfler and Baden wines, an amusement park which is officially the largest on the Upper Rhine between Basel and Karlsruhe — featuring rides like Höllenblitz, bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, chain carousel, and dozens of other attractions.

Parade with the Plum Queen

The highlight is traditionally the grand parade on Sunday (September 13, 2026, approx. 2 PM). Over 50 floats, traditional costume groups, music clubs from the region, and of course the Zwetschgenkönigin (Plum Queen) on her representative float will march through the city center. The Queen is elected annually and represents the city and its fruit for a year throughout Germany and internationally.

Wine Village, Festival Tent, and Stages

• Weindorf in the Stadtgarten — over 20 vintners from Markgräflerland, Ortenau, and Baden offering Riesling, Spätburgunder, Grauburgunder, Gutedel, and of course plum schnapps (Zwetschgenwasser)
• Festival Tent with live bands, brass bands, cover bands, and Schlager acts
• Marktplatz Stage — regional bands, youth program
• Main Stage — opening acts and more prominent performances
• Amusement Park on the festival grounds — largest on the Rhine between Basel and Karlsruhe

Bühl and the Rastatt District

Bühl is located in the Landkreis Rastatt (Rastatt district), nestled between the northern Black Forest and the Rhine plain. With around 29,000 inhabitants, the Große Kreisstadt is the economic center of the middle Achertal valley. Bühl is also known regionally for its Bosch industrial sites and its location on the Schwarzwaldhochweg (Black Forest High Trail). The Zwetschgenfest is by far the largest Volksfest (folk festival) in the city and attracts over 200,000 visitors annually from the Rhine Valley, Alsace, and Switzerland.