Dorffest Willaringen

Hotzenwald Charm on a Small Scale

Willaringen is a district of the municipality of Albbruck in the southern Black Forest (Hotzenwald), situated above the High Rhine in the Waldshut district. The elevated village has just under 500 inhabitants and preserves the typical Black Forest farm and alpine pasture culture. The village festival, organized by the Music Association Alpenblick Willaringen and the Volunteer Fire Brigade Willaringen, is THE social highlight of the district, held every two years.

Festival Tent and Historical Equipment

The venue is a festival tent at Willaringen Town Hall. A special feature: the tent is decorated with historical agricultural equipment from the Hotzenwald region – old hay turners, scythes, wooden plows, alpine baskets. This staging gives the festival a character reminiscent of a living local history museum rather than a classic festival tent operation. The rustic atmosphere is both a trademark and a program item.

Program Over Three Days

Friday, May 16th, 2026, serves as a warm-up day with the arrival of the associations and a small program. Saturday evening, May 17th, 2026, is dedicated to the barrel tapping and party bands – usually cover bands from the Black Forest or neighboring Aargau (Switzerland). Sunday, May 18th, 2026, is the traditional brass music day: from the morning onwards, guest music associations and brass bands from the Hotzenwald, High Rhine region, and adjacent Switzerland perform – a mix of concerts and camaraderie gatherings that embodies the club life of the Hotzenwald.

Albbruck and the Hotzenwald

Albbruck, as a municipality, includes not only the eponymous town on the High Rhine but also several Hotzenwald elevated villages such as Willaringen, Albert, and Etzwihl. The municipality has a total population of around 7,500. The Hotzenwald – a plateau between the Black Forest and the High Rhine – is considered a culturally distinct region with its own dialect, traditional costumes (Hotzenwäldler in black attire with a red ribbon), and a strong association culture. The Willaringen village festival is one of the finest examples of this association culture.