Füssen Volksfest

Folk Festival at the Gateway to the Allgäu Alps

The Füssen Volksfest is the grand civic folk festival of the town of Füssen, which is known far beyond the region as the "Gateway to the Allgäu" and as the starting point for the Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles. The folk festival itself, however, is surprisingly down-to-earth: it is not made for castle tourists, but for the town itself and its surroundings in the Ostallgäu district (Bavaria).

Kemptener Straße Fairground

The venue is the Volksfestplatz Füssen at Kemptener Straße 88, on the outskirts of Füssen. The area is traditionally cleared for the folk festival and a few other major events. The festival tent, operated by changing regional hosts, forms the centerpiece; around it, showmen set up amusement rides, carousels, and stalls.

Program Format

The folk festival classically extends over two weekends and the weekdays in between:

• Opening Weekend: Opening with beer tapping, first festival evening, festival weekend with full operation of amusement rides.
• Weekdays: Quieter festival operation, often family day with discounts, catering in the festival tent and inns.
• Closing Weekend: Grand festival evening, traditional Bavarian Day atmosphere, often a closing fireworks display.

Allgäu Specialties

Allgäu breweries dominate the festival tent (often Aktien-Brauerei Kaufbeuren, Memminger, or comparable regional houses), served with classic Allgäu side dishes: hearty snacks, Käsknöpfle (cheese noodles), Schäufele (pork shoulder), Schweinsbraten (roast pork). Chicken stands are a must, as everywhere in Bavaria. The amusement ride street features a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, a chain carousel, children's rides, and candy stalls.

Location and Atmosphere

Füssen lies on the southern edge of the Allgäu, at the gateway to the royal castles and on the shores of Lake Forggensee. In summer, the town is very busy with tourists, which is why the folk festival often provides a welcome shift towards "real city life." The mix of a tourist hotspot and an actual market town with its own club life is a strength of the folk festival – those who visit it see the Allgäu not only through the lens of castle tours but also through the lens of the festival tent.