50th Dorf- und Kelterfest Illingen

A Tradition Since 1977

The Dorf- und Kelterfest Illingen is celebrating its 50th edition in 2026 — a rare anniversary in the Southwest German club calendar. The roots of the festival lie in the community's winegrowing history: Illingen, with its nearly 7,200 inhabitants, is located in the Stromberg region, one of Baden-Württemberg's oldest winegrowing areas. The historic wine press (Kelter) in the town center is now a listed monument and the namesake center of the festival.

Stromberg Wines and Village Community

Illingen has been producing wine for centuries — primarily Trollinger, Lemberger, Riesling, and Schwarzriesling. The vineyards on the Höhberg, Knittlinger Berg, and Schmierbergle are part of the larger Stromberg growing region. The Kelterfest also serves as a sales platform for local vintners and a village gathering with club hospitality. The municipality and local clubs — sports clubs, music association, fire department, heritage society — organize the festival together.

50 Years — What to Expect

The municipality has announced an anniversary program for 2026 that goes beyond the usual format: additional parades, historical retrospectives, special exhibitions on viticulture, and an expanded cultural program. As of Spring 2026, the detailed program has not yet been fully released — the information "more information to follow" is currently on the municipal website. What is certain: wine tasting directly at the historic wine press, regional dishes, live music from the regional brass band spectrum, stalls from local clubs.

Illingen in the Enzkreis

The Enzkreis is located between Karlsruhe and Stuttgart, nestled in the northern Black Forest foothills and the Stromberg hill country. Illingen is one of the four winegrowing communities in the district (along with Vaihingen-Roßwag, Maulbronn, and Knittlingen) and home to several family wineries. The nearest train connection is Mühlacker — from there, it's a ten-minute bus ride to Illingen.