Erding Autumn Festival

One of Bavaria's Largest Folk Festivals

The Erdinger Herbstfest is one of the most traditional folk festivals in Upper Bavaria and will celebrate its 84th edition in 2026. With origins dating back to 1816, its history reaches back to the Napoleonic era. Today, it is considered the third largest folk festival in Upper Bavaria after the Munich Oktoberfest and the Rosenheim Herbstfest — consequently, the Erdinger Herbstfest is much more than a local folk festival; it is a regionally renowned Wiesn event in the Upper Bavarian district of Erding.

Two Large Festival Tents and a Double-Decker Tent

The festival tent concept of the Erdinger Herbstfest is significantly different from the Munich Oktoberfest: instead of numerous smaller tents, there are two large main tents, each with several thousand seats. The Erdinger-Weißbräu-Festzelt is operated by the local brewery (Erdinger Weißbräu — one of the most famous Bavarian wheat beer breweries). The second tent is the Fischer's-Stiftungsbrauerei-Festzelt. A special feature is the double-decker festival tent with two floors — Bavaria's only two-story beer tent.

Amusement Rides, Showmen, and Horse Races

Around 60–70 showmen gather annually on the Erdinger Volksfestplatz. Roller coasters, a Ferris wheel, wave flyers, classic children's carousels, haunted houses, shooting galleries, gingerbread stalls — the full spectrum of Bavarian folk festival showmanship. A special attraction is the horse races on the adjacent racecourse, a program item with a long tradition.

Opening, Traditional Costume Parade, and Wiesn Atmosphere

The Herbstfest opens on the last Friday in August with a parade from Erding's city center to the Volksfestplatz and the traditional beer tapping by the Lord Mayor. On the first Sunday, the grand traditional costume and marksmen's parade takes place — with hundreds of participants from traditional costume associations, shooting guilds, and clubs from the region. The centerpiece is the ten days of festivities with daily beer tent entertainment — from morning pint sessions to family afternoons and evening live bands.

Closing Fireworks and Regional Significance

The grand fireworks display on the last Sunday (or Monday evening, depending on the year) marks the conclusion — a massive crowd gathers on the festival grounds, in the town, and along the Sempt river. The Erdinger Herbstfest is an economic factor for the region: hotels, restaurants, and transportation benefit significantly. In the district of Erding, the festival, along with the Erding Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market) in Advent, forms the annual highlight of festival culture.