Ettlinger Marktfest

Ettlingen — Major District Town on the Edge of the Black Forest

Ettlingen, with a population of around 40,000, is a 'Große Kreisstadt' (major district town) in the Karlsruhe district, located immediately south of the major city on the Alb river. It is known for its baroque residential palace (now the city administration and home to the Ettlingen Castle Festival), its compactly preserved historic old town around the market square and Marktstraße, and its location at the gateway to the Northern Black Forest. The Marktfest is one of the most important town festivals in the 'Große Kreisstadt's' annual event calendar.

Town Festival in the Old Town

The Marktfest 2026 will take place from Friday, August 28, to Sunday, August 30, 2026. The venue is the historic old town between the market square, castle square, and Marktstraße. The city of Ettlingen organizes the festival together with Ettlingen's clubs and associations, who set up their catering stands in the alleys. Bands from the Karlsruhe Technology Region will perform on the central main stage at the market square — cover and dance bands in the evening, brass music from Ettlingen's music associations in the afternoon.

Family Festival with a Baroque Setting

A special feature of the Ettlinger Marktfest is its backdrop: Ettlingen's baroque palace with its magnificent entrance portal directly on the Schlossplatz and the historic half-timbered and stone houses on the Marktplatz create an atmosphere that many new town festivals cannot offer. Family entertainment on Sunday afternoon (children's carousel, bouncy castle, craft activities), dance groups from Ettlingen's schools, and Sunday shopping by Ettlingen's retailers complement the program.

Connection to the Castle Festival Cycle

The Marktfest traditionally falls on the last weekend of the Ettlingen Castle Festival — the annual summer theater series held in the courtyard of the castle. Those planning a weekend in Ettlingen can combine the Marktfest and the Castle Festival — an attractive combination of folk festival and high culture, giving the 'Große Kreisstadt' a clear profile advantage over neighboring towns.