Feuerbacher Kirbe

Feuerbacher Kirbe — Stuttgart's second Volksfest

When Stuttgart mentions Volksfest, many first think of the Cannstatter Wasen — and rightly so: with around 4 million visitors, it's Germany's second-largest Volksfest after Munich's Oktoberfest. But two weeks before the Wasen, in September, a smaller, yet traditional Volksfest takes place in the north of the city: the Feuerbacher Kirbe. It is considered the second-largest Volksfest of its kind in Stuttgart — and for the residents of the Feuerbach district, it is the highlight of the event year.

Festplatz Feuerbach: Kärntner Straße 48

The venue is the Festplatz Feuerbach at Kärntner Straße 48 (70469 Stuttgart) — on the western edge of the district, easily accessible via the Stadtbahn lines U6 and U13. Here, the large festival tent will be erected for the duration of the festival, along with the amusement park featuring carousels, a log flume, a Ferris wheel, and roller coasters, and finally, the market with its over one hundred stalls.

Festzelt: Brass Music and Swabian Cuisine

The central element is the Festzelt. Every evening, a festival band or a music club from the Stuttgart region plays here — brass music, Schlager, and traditional folk music. A Stuttgart restaurateur traditionally handles the catering: draft beer from local breweries, Swabian cuisine with Rostbraten (roast beef), Saiten (sausages), potato salad, Maultaschen (dumplings), and Saure Kutteln (tripe in sauce). Opening hours: Thursday 6 PM–10 PM (Opening), Friday 6 PM–11 PM, Saturday 11 AM–11 PM, Sunday 10 AM–10 PM (Festival parade in the morning), Monday 11 AM–10 PM (Festival finale).

Vergnügungspark: Rides and Showmen

The Vergnügungspark is open Saturday to Monday from 11 AM to 11 PM. The showmen bring classic Volksfest rides: a Ferris wheel with views over Stuttgart's north, carousels for the little ones, a haunted house, a Rotor, roller coasters, and dodgems. In addition, there are the typical stalls selling sweets, candied almonds, gingerbread hearts, and shooting galleries.

Krämermarkt: Over 100 Market Stalls

The Krämermarkt is a tradition of the Feuerbacher Kirbe in itself — more than 100 market stalls offer household goods, tools, clothing, plants, leather goods, and food. It is open Saturday and Monday from 9 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 8 PM.

Honoratioren-Stammtisch on Monday

The highlight for the political and cultural elite of the district is the Honoratioren-Stammtisch on Monday lunchtime in the festival tent. The Lord Mayor, district administrators, and representatives from politics, sports, and business gather here; a high-ranking state politician traditionally gives the festival speech and taps the beer keg. It is the social event of Stuttgart's north.

Feuerbach District

Feuerbach (around 28,600 inhabitants) is one of Stuttgart's northern districts. Characterized by industry — the former headquarters of Bosch and many automotive suppliers — but at the same time strongly self-aware, with its own weekly market tradition, its own town center around Wilhelm-Geiger-Platz, and its own sports club (Sportvereinigung Feuerbach). The Kirbe is the central expression of this identity — not by chance is it considered by many Stuttgart residents to be more "authentic" than the Wasen, which has become very touristy over the years.