74th Grafenauer Volksfest – WAIDLA Festival
One of the oldest and most beautiful folk festivals in the Bavarian Forest – with the traditional WAIDLA Sunday and WAIDLA Market
About Grafenauer Volksfest
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Folk Festival with Tradition
The Grafenauer Volksfest looks back on a long history and is one of the oldest folk festivals in the Bavarian Forest. The 74th edition in 2026 underscores its continuity – since the post-war period, the festival has been the highlight of the summer calendar for the town of Grafenau in the Freyung-Grafenau district. The event is organized by the town of Grafenau in cooperation with the festival host Blöchinger & Mayer (FESTevent).
WAIDLA Sunday
The heart of the folk festival is WAIDLA Sunday. "Waidla" is the self-designation of the inhabitants of the Bavarian Forest – a term that expresses regional identity. On WAIDLA Sunday, the WAIDLA Market takes place directly next to the festival grounds: a traditional market from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. featuring traditional costume fashion, garden decorations, crafts, and gifts. Thousands of visitors from the Bavarian Forest and the neighboring Bohemian Forest (CZ) flock together on this day.
Opening with Horse-Drawn Procession
Traditionally, the folk festival begins on Friday afternoon with a grand procession. Horse-drawn carriages, traditional costume groups, music bands, and the reigning mayor parade from the town center to the festival grounds, where the tapping of the first beer keg at 4:45 p.m. officially opens the festival. Afterwards, a live band plays in the festival tent.
Rides and Family Program
The folk festival offers the classic mix of attractions: bumper cars, swing boats, Ferris wheel, carousels, shooting galleries, and numerous food stalls with bratwurst, roast chicken, grilled fish on a stick, and sweets. The festival is also family-friendly with discounted prices on one of the festival days (Family Day).
Bavarian Forest as a Backdrop
Grafenau is located in the heart of the Bavarian Forest, near the Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany's oldest national park. Visitors to the folk festival can combine their weekend with a hike in the national park or a visit to the Hans-Eisenmann House. The most convenient way to travel is by car via Deggendorf and Passau.
Grafenauer Volksfest — edition 2026
The 74th Grafenauer Volksfest 2026 runs from Friday, July 3rd, to Wednesday, July 8th. Six festival days mark the summer program for the town of Grafenau and its surroundings in the Freyung-Grafenau district.
The highlight is WAIDLA Sunday on July 5th, with the WAIDLA Market directly on the festival grounds. In addition, the festival tent, amusement park, and gastronomic stalls provide the typical folk festival atmosphere that makes the Grafenau festival one of the most beautiful in the Bavarian Forest.
Programme Grafenauer Volksfest 2026
Six Festival Days July 3–8, 2026
Friday, July 3, 2026 – Opening Day
- Afternoon — Grand procession with horse-drawn carriages, traditional costume groups, and music bands from the town center to the festival grounds
- 4:45 p.m. — Beer Tapping and official opening by the mayor in the festival tent
- Evening — Festival tent concert
Saturday, July 4
- Festival tent operation with live music
- Amusement park open
Sunday, July 5 – WAIDLA Sunday
- 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. — WAIDLA Market directly on the festival grounds: traditional costumes, garden decorations, crafts, gifts
- Morning — Frühschoppen (morning pint) in the festival tent with brass music
- Afternoon — Family program
- Evening — Festival tent concert
Monday–Wednesday, July 6–8
- Daily festival tent program with various bands
- Family Day with reduced ride prices
- Wednesday — Closing fireworks
Attractions
- Classic rides: bumper cars, swing boats, carousels
- Shooting galleries, prize stalls
- Bratwurst, roast chicken, grilled fish on a stick, sweets
The exact band program and daily schedule will be published before the festival on grafenau.com.
Highlights Grafenauer Volksfest 2026
Prices Grafenauer Volksfest 2026
Practical information — Grafenauer Volksfest
Getting There
By car: A3 (exit Passau-Süd or Deggendorf), continue on the B85 to Grafenau. Parking available around the festival grounds. By train: Waldbahn to Grafenau.
Admission
Admission to the festival grounds is free. Beer tent, rides, and food stalls are subject to charges.
Opening 2026
Friday, July 3, 2026, 4:45 p.m. – Tapping of the first beer keg and official opening.
WAIDLA Market
Sunday, July 5, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., directly on the festival grounds.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Grafenauer Volksfest al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Grafenauer Volksfest
Volksfestplatz Grafenau
Volksfestplatz, 94481 Grafenau