Gefreeser Wiesenfest
One of the oldest school festivals in Franconia — a five-day Volksfest in Gefrees in the Fichtelgebirge with unbroken tradition since 1656
About Wiesenfest Gefrees
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The Gefreeser Wiesenfest is among the oldest documented school and Wiesenfest festivals in Bavaria. The first documented mention dates back to May 7, 1656: on that day, the Gefrees school children demonstrably celebrated the Gregoriusfest for the first time, a late medieval school festival that became the precursor to today's Wiesenfest. This dating was scientifically confirmed in the region's church archives in 2024/25, making the 2026 Wiesenfest the 370th edition in documented tradition.
Today, the festival spans five days from Thursday evening to Whit Monday, filling the town. The focal point is the festival meadow on the outskirts with a festival tent, amusement rides, and stage program. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings are dedicated to dancing in the festival tent with live music; on Friday evening, a grand fireworks display crowns the festival meadow — the hallmark of the Gefreeser Wiesenfest.
The festival Sunday brings the entire community together with the festival service, a morning pint (Frühschoppen) in the forest, and the grand festival parade through the main street — led by the school youth, clubs, and friendly Wiesenfest associations from the Fichtelgebirge. Dancing on the main street is the Gefrees specialty: the main street is closed off and becomes a dance floor.
On Whit Monday, the children take center stage: pupils from the Gefrees elementary school present dances, performances, and the traditional program on the festival meadow — an element that keeps the origin as a school festival from the 17th century visibly alive.
The town of Gefrees is officially pursuing the nomination of the Wiesenfest for Bavaria's intangible cultural heritage — an endeavor that underscores the historical depth and unbroken preservation of this tradition. Nestled in the Fichtelgebirge, located in the Bayreuth district, the Gefreeser Wiesenfest is far more than a Volksfest: it is the lived identity of a small town with 3,000 inhabitants.
Wiesenfest Gefrees — edition 2026
From July 9 to 13, 2026, Gefrees will celebrate its Wiesenfest. In 2026, the festival weekend falls on the second weekend of July and thus on Pentecost — five days of festivities on the festival meadow, in the main street, and at the festival forest.
On the occasion of the 370 years since the first documented mention in 1656, the Historical Forum Gefrees is publishing a commemorative publication for the 2026 Wiesenfest. The town is simultaneously pursuing the nomination of the Wiesenfest for Bavaria's intangible cultural heritage.
Programme Wiesenfest Gefrees 2026
Thursday, July 9, 2026
- From 7:00 PM: Opening of the Wiesenfest in the festival tent
- Evening of dance with live music
Friday, July 10, 2026
- From 7:00 PM: Festival tent with dance music
- Late evening: Grand fireworks display over the festival meadow — the hallmark of the Gefreeser Wiesenfest
Saturday, July 11, 2026
- From 8:00 PM: Grand festival evening with dancing in the festival tent
- Dancing on the main street — the main street becomes a dance floor
Sunday, July 12, 2026 — Festival Sunday
- 9:30 AM: Festival service
- Morning pint (Frühschoppen) in the forest
- Afternoon: Grand festival parade through the main street with school youth, clubs, and friendly Wiesenfest associations from the Fichtelgebirge
- Evening: Festival tent operation with dance music
Whit Monday, July 13, 2026
- From 9:00 AM: Morning pint (Frühschoppen)
- Children's program and school performances by the Gefrees elementary school on the festival meadow — a reminder of the origin as a school festival since the 17th century
- Evening: Winding down in the festival tent
Commemorative Publication for 370 Years
- The Historical Forum Gefrees e.V. is publishing a commemorative publication for the 2026 Wiesenfest, marking the first documented mention in 1656
The detailed program with band names and times will be announced by the City of Gefrees and the Wiesenfest Association via gefrees.de and Facebook »Gefreeser Wiesenfest«.
Highlights Wiesenfest Gefrees 2026
Prices Wiesenfest Gefrees 2026
Practical information — Wiesenfest Gefrees
Location
Festival grounds Wiesenfest and Hauptstraße, 95482 Gefrees (Bayreuth district, Fichtelgebirge, Upper Franconia).
Getting There
By car via the A9 (exit Bad Berneck/Himmelkron), then B303 towards Marktredwitz. By train: Line to Bayreuth Hbf, then bus or connection to Gefrees.
Opening Hours Festival Tent 2026
Thursday and Friday from 7 PM — Saturday from 8 PM — Sunday from 9:30 AM (with festival service) — Whit Monday from 9 AM.
Date 2026
July 2nd weekend: Thursday, July 9 to Whit Monday, July 13, 2026.
Contact
City of Gefrees: gefrees.de — Wiesenfestverein Gefrees: Facebook »Gefreeser Wiesenfest«.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Wiesenfest Gefrees al mejor precio.
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