48th Gernsbach Old Town Festival 2026
Three days of Old Town Festival in the historic paper-making town at the entrance to the Murg Valley
About Gernsbach Old Town Festival
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Three Days of Old Town Festival on the Edge of the Black Forest
When the Mayor of Gernsbach taps the keg on Friday evening, three days of folk festival begin in one of the most beautiful preserved old towns in Baden-Württemberg. From Friday, September 18th, to Sunday, September 20th, 2026, the 48th Gernsbach Old Town Festival will take place. The alleys between Hofstätte and Hauptstraße transform into a festival mile, with stalls from local associations, restaurateurs, and craftspeople lining up, and the Murg promenade becomes the main stage for the major event.
Program: Crafts, Culinary Delights, Middle Ages
The program caters to several facets of Gernsbach's tradition. In the medieval alleys, craftspeople demonstrate old techniques — papermaking, blacksmithing, basket weaving, carpentry. The international culinary offerings range from Baden Maultaschen and Alsatian Flammkuchen to Italian specialties, Mediterranean cuisine, and Asian street food options. The Spielmobilino plays a leading role in the children's program — mobile play facilities with stilts, giant building blocks, and climbing frames.
Murg Raft Trips — The Flagship
A Gernsbach specialty is the Murg raft trips, carried out by the association of woodcutters and rafters of Gernsbach. On the traditional wooden rafts, which used to transport Black Forest timber towards the Rhine and Holland, festival visitors can take a short trip on the Murg for free or a small donation. A maritime touch in a landlocked town — and a piece of living industrial history of the Murg Valley.
The Highlight: Music Fireworks on Saturday Evening
On Saturday evening at 8:30 PM, the grand music fireworks display will take place on the Murg promenade — synchronized to a musical sequence composed anew each year. Thousands of visitors gather on the promenade and the Murg bridge to experience the fireworks over the river. One of the most atmospheric firework displays in Baden-Württemberg, set against a backdrop that only Gernsbach's old town can offer.
Gernsbach — Paper-Making Town at the Entrance to the Murg Valley
Gernsbach, a town of around 14,000 inhabitants in the Rastatt district, is located at the entrance to the Murg Valley and is the historic paper-making town of Southern Germany. From the Middle Ages to the 20th century, paper — made from Murg water and Black Forest wood — was Gernsbach's most important industry. The paper-making heritage is omnipresent in the old town: in the patrician houses, the city museum, the street names. The combination of a preserved old town, its Black Forest location, and industrial heritage makes Gernsbach one of the most attractive small towns on the edge of the Black Forest — and an ideal venue for an Old Town Festival.
Gernsbach Old Town Festival — edition 2026
Three Days of Festival in the Historic Old Town
The 48th Gernsbach Old Town Festival runs from Friday, September 18th, to Sunday, September 20th, 2026, in Gernsbach's old town. The festival begins on Friday evening at 7 PM with the traditional keg tapping by the mayor. Catering stands from Gernsbach associations, restaurateurs, and craftspeople line the alleys from Hofstätte to Hauptstraße.
Saturday is the main festival day with a full program: medieval alley with craft demonstrations (papermaking, blacksmithing, basket weaving), international culinary offerings (Maultaschen, Flammkuchen, pizza, Asian specialties), Murg raft trips, and live music on various stages. The highlight at 8:30 PM is the music fireworks on the Murg promenade. Sunday will have a family focus with an enhanced children's program and a relaxed festival conclusion.
Programme Gernsbach Old Town Festival 2026
Friday, September 18, 2026 — 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM
- 7:00 PM — Mayor's keg tapping, festival opening
- Catering stands open in Hofstätte and Hauptstraße
- Live music on the market square stage
- Medieval Alley — Craft demonstrations
Saturday, September 19, 2026 — 3:00 PM to 2:00 AM
- 3:00 PM — Festival reopens with full program
- Medieval Alley with papermaking, blacksmithing, basket weaving
- Murg raft trips from the Murg promenade (free / donation)
- Spielmobilino — mobile children's program
- International Culinary Delights: Baden Maultaschen, Flammkuchen, Pizza, Street Food
- 8:30 PM — Music Fireworks on the Murg Promenade
- After the fireworks — Live music in the festival tents until 2:00 AM
Sunday, September 20, 2026 — 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- 11:00 AM — Family program with Spielmobilino
- Murg raft trips continue to be available
- Afternoon — Concerts by music associations
- Evening — Relaxed festival conclusion
Venue
- Gernsbach Old Town from Hofstätte to Hauptstraße, Market Square, Murg Promenade
- Craftspeople on Waldbachstraße
Highlights Gernsbach Old Town Festival 2026
- 48th edition of Gernsbach's most important summer festival
- Medieval Alley with traditional craft demonstrations (paper, blacksmith, basket weaving)
- Murg raft trips on the Murg — a piece of living industrial history
- Music Fireworks Saturday 8:30 PM on the Murg Promenade
- International Culinary Delights (Maultaschen, Flammkuchen, Street Food)
- Spielmobilino — mobile children's program
- Historic old town of the paper-making city as the festival backdrop
Prices Gernsbach Old Town Festival 2026
Free admission. Food and drinks at association and gastronomy stands at usual festival prices. Murg raft trips free or by small donation. Spielmobilino free for children.
Practical information — Gernsbach Old Town Festival
Getting There
By train: Stadtbahn S 41 (Karlsruhe — Bad Wildbad) or S 8 (Karlsruhe — Achern), Gernsbach stop. By car: A 8 or B 462 to Gernsbach. Road closures in the old town during the festival weekend — parking recommended on the outskirts with shuttle service.
Opening Hours
Friday, September 18, 2026: 7:00 PM to 1:00 AM (Keg tapping, opening). Saturday, September 19: 3:00 PM to 2:00 AM (Main festival day, music fireworks 8:30 PM). Sunday, September 20: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Family day, festival winding down).
Admission
Free admission to the festival. Food and drinks at association and gastronomy stands at usual festival prices. Murg raft trips free or by small donation.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Gernsbach Old Town Festival al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Gernsbach Old Town Festival
Altstadt Gernsbach (Hofstätte bis Hauptstraße, Murg-Promenade)
Hofstätte / Hauptstraße, 76593 Gernsbach, 76593 Gernsbach