Heimat- und Strandfest Rotenburg an der Fulda
Six days of summer festival with Schlosspark lights, boat parade, and fireworks over the Fulda
About Heimat- und Strandfest
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The most romantic summer festival in North Hesse
The Heimat- und Strandfest Rotenburg an der Fulda is one of the most beautiful summer festivals in North Hesse. For six days, the half-timbered town transforms into a festival mile on the first weekend in July, featuring amusement rides, open-air concerts, Schlosspark lights, and water features on the Fulda. The format is classic: family program during the day, disco tent in the evening, and on Sunday, the grand spectacle with a boat parade and fireworks.
Summer festival on Friday
On Friday, a summer festival for children begins with amusement rides around the market square and the castle grounds. Family activities during the day, opening of the festival tent in the evening.
Schlosspark as a stage
On Saturday, the Schlosspark becomes a stage: concerts, show programs, gastronomic stands, plus the famous illumination that has earned the park the nickname 'Festival of 20,000 Lights'. Thousands of candles, lanterns, and fairy lights turn the historic park into one of Hesse's most beautiful festival venues after dark.
Sunday: Parade, fireworks, grand show
Sunday is the day for spectacle: In the morning, a parade through the old town; in the afternoon, the boat parade on the Fulda – traditionally with historic and newly decorated boats. In the evening, the highlight: the fireworks over the river, embedded in a water and light show on the bank and from the castle balcony.
Disco tent for the younger crowd
A unique feature of Rotenburg: The festival operates one of the largest disco tent stages in the region. From Thursday to Sunday, the festival tent hosts a DJ program every evening – an attraction for young audiences from Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Thuringia.
Half-timbered houses and water
Rotenburg an der Fulda is part of the 'German Timber-Frame Road' and is located between the Knüllgebirge and Stölzinger Gebirge mountains in the Hessian low mountain range. With around 12,000 inhabitants, the town is small, but its location on the river and the historic Schlosspark make it ideal for a festival of this kind.
Heimat- und Strandfest — edition 2026
The Heimat- und Strandfest traditionally takes place on the first weekend in July. In 2026, it runs from Wednesday, July 1st, to Monday, July 6th. The detailed program will be announced about four weeks before the festival on rotenburg-erleben.de and at the Tourist Information office.
Programme Heimat- und Strandfest 2026
Wednesday–Thursday, July 1st–2nd, 2026 — Setup and Opening
- Setup of stalls, opening of the festival tent
- First concert and DJ evenings in the festival tent
Friday, July 3rd, 2026 — Summer Festival for Children
- During the day: Amusement rides and children's entertainment around the market square and castle
- Evening: Main program in the festival tent with live band and DJ
Saturday, July 4th, 2026 — Festival in the Schlosspark
- Concerts and show programs in the Schlosspark
- Gastronomic stands along the paths
- After dark: 'Festival of 20,000 Lights' – thousands of candles and fairy lights in the park
- Late evening disco in the festival tent
Sunday, July 5th, 2026 — Spectacle Day
- Morning: Parade through the old town
- Afternoon: Boat parade on the Fulda
- Evening: Grand fireworks display over the Fulda with water and light show
Monday, July 6th, 2026 — Wind-down
- Last day of the festival with remaining amusement rides
- Evening farewell program in the festival tent
Highlights Heimat- und Strandfest 2026
- Six days of city festival with a classic Heimatfest format
- 'Festival of 20,000 Lights' in the Schlosspark
- Boat parade on the Fulda followed by fireworks
- Parade on Sunday through the old town
- Largest disco tent stage in the region
- Free admission to the city festival
Prices Heimat- und Strandfest 2026
Admission to the city festival, boat parade, and fireworks is free. There may be an evening admission fee for the disco in the festival tent.
Practical information — Heimat- und Strandfest
Getting there
Train: RE/RB connection Bebra–Bad Hersfeld, Rotenburg (Fulda) station; from there, a 10-minute walk to the old town. Car: A7 exit Hersfeld-West, then B27 towards Rotenburg.
Admission
Admission to the city festival is free. There may be an admission fee for the festival tent in the evening; the boat parade and fireworks are free from the riverbank.
Dates
July 1st–6th, 2026 (Wednesday–Monday). Main program Friday to Sunday.
Tip
For the best fireworks photo: secure a spot on the Fulda riverbank near the Schlosspark, about an hour before the parade begins.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Heimat- und Strandfest al mejor precio.
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Where it takes place Heimat- und Strandfest
Schlosspark, Innenstadt und Fulda-Ufer
Schlosspark Rotenburg / Innenstadt / Fulda-Ufer, 36199 Rotenburg an der Fulda