Hanau Lamboyfest

A Festival with Historical Roots

The Lamboyfest is one of the oldest and most historically profound folk festivals in Hesse. It commemorates a specific historical event: the liberation of Hanau on June 13th, 1636. At that time, Landgrave Wilhelm V. of Hesse-Kassel – allied with Swedish troops – ended a nine-month siege of the city by the imperial army under General Wilhelm von Lamboy. The festival, dedicated to those who were besieged, runs from June 12th to 14th, 2026.

From Day of Prayer to Folk Festival

What began as a church day of remembrance in the late 18th century – a day of prayer and penance to commemorate the horrors of the Thirty Years' War – has developed since the early 19th century into one of the city's most important folk festivals. Since then, the Lamboyfest has been celebrated annually in Hanau's old town – with a mixture of historical remembrance and exuberant city festival.

Several Stages in the Old Town

The venue is the Altstädter Markt (Old Town Market) with the surrounding streets. A varied music program of rock, pop, folk, and Hessian dialect acts is featured on several stages. The historic old town – with its half-timbered buildings, the Marienkirche, and the German Goldsmiths' House – forms an impressive festival backdrop.

LamboyKEKS – The Children's Festival

An important part of the Lamboyfest is the LamboyKEKS children's festival, which takes place on Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 PM in the Schlosshof (Castle Courtyard). Program: Craft activities, jewelry making with local goldsmiths (Hanau is a traditional goldsmith city!), performances by dance groups, and interactive activities for families.

Special Exhibition on the 1636 Siege

An extensive special exhibition is on display in the Alte Johanneskirche (Old St. John's Church), tracing the siege of Hanau in 1635/1636 and the regional events of the Thirty Years' War with eleven information panels and detailed dioramas. The theme is "The Worst Years of the Great War" – a rare case where a folk festival is combined with sophisticated historical education.

Festival Mug and Catering

Admission is free. Those who buy drinks receive the official festival mug for €2 (non-refundable) – the proceeds go towards financing the festival. Catering is provided by local restaurateurs and associations with Hessian specialties.

Hanau – City of the Brothers Grimm and Goldsmiths' Metropolis

Hanau, with around 100,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in the Main-Kinzig district and lies about 25 kilometers east of Frankfurt. The city is the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm – Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were born here in 1785 and 1786. Furthermore, Hanau has been an important goldsmith city for centuries, with the Deutsches Goldschmiedehaus (German Goldsmiths' House) and Germany's oldest goldsmith vocational training.