Gartenfest Echlishausen – Lyra's Musiker-Wies'n

Lyra's Musiker-Wies'n – Brass Music Culture in the Danube Valley

The Gartenfest Echlishausen, affectionately called Lyra's Musiker-Wies'n by organizers and regulars, is one of the most renowned brass music festivals in the Swabian district of Günzburg. It is organized by the traditional Musikkapelle Lyra Echlishausen-Bühl e.V. in the Bavarian-Swabian municipality of Bibertal. The venue is the playground on the outskirts of Echlishausen, which is transformed into a lively festival area with a beer tent for the event days.

Date on Corpus Christi – A Firm Tradition

The festival takes place every year around the Catholic holiday of Corpus Christi. This connection to a regional religious holiday is typical for club festivals in Catholic-influenced Bavarian Swabia and secures the Gartenfest its firm place in the early summer calendar.

ECHILOVISION – The Eurovision of Brass Music

The festival's hallmark is ECHILOVISION, a humorously staged performance competition modeled after the Eurovision Song Contest. Friendly music associations and clubs compete before the audience with short, often costumed stage performances. The program is complemented by the interactive event »Play for your Beer«, where festival-goers are invited to earn a beer with their own musical contribution.

High-Caliber Brass Music

Throughout the festival days, the Musikkapelle Lyra presents a wide spectrum of Bohemian-Moravian and Alpine brass music. A regular highlight is the performance by major show bands like the Feststadel Musikanten, multiple European champions of Bohemian-Moravian brass music. The association's youth orchestra also performs during the festival, underscoring the focus on nurturing young talent.

Schedule Over Three Days

• Wednesday (Eve): Setup and 'Festzeltflimmern' – open-air cinema in the beer tent with the beer tapping ceremony.
• Corpus Christi (Thursday): Morning pint (Frühschoppen) with brass music, coffee and cake with a children's program and youth orchestra, warm-up concert, and a grand evening performance by a top band.
• Friday: Festival procession and community choir at the church square, followed by the ECHILOVISION competition and 'Play for your Beer' until late into the night.

The Association and its Importance for Bibertal

The Musikkapelle Lyra Echlishausen-Bühl has been a cultural focal point for the districts of Echlishausen and Bühl for decades. The Gartenfest is its most important club event and attracts guests from the entire Günzburg district, the neighboring Neu-Ulm district, and from Baden-Württemberg to the Swabian Danube valley every year.