Herrenberg City Festival — The Biggest Herrenberg Hocketse

Herrenberg City Festival — The Conclusion of Sommerfarben

For years, the Herrenberg City Festival has marked the festive end of the municipal summer program Sommerfarben — a multi-week event series by the city of Herrenberg with open-air concerts, theater, readings, and cultural offerings. The concluding Hocketse in mid-July is the most popular part of this program: three days of festival atmosphere in the old town, with four stages, nine clubs, and a packed music and entertainment program. The 2026 edition runs from 17 to 19 July.

Four Stages — Nine Clubs

The four stages are spread across the old town: at the market square (main stage), at the collegiate church, at the Schönbuch fountain, and in one of the side alleys. Each stage has its own musical profile — the main stage features cover rock and pop bands, the collegiate church stage classical music and brass bands, and the smaller stages indie, singer-songwriter, and DJ sets. The nine organizing clubs (Stadtkapelle, sports clubs, cultural initiatives, citizens' groups) operate catering stands — Swabian specialties, beer from the regional brewery, wine from the Schönbuch region, and non-alcoholic drinks.

Program Structure

The city festival begins on Friday, 17 July from 7 PM with the opening ceremony at the market square. Saturday, 18 July from 2 PM is the main festival day with the most extensive program — many club stands are only open on this day or from the afternoon onwards. The highlight is the Saturday evening program with top regional acts on the main stage. Sunday, 19 July from 11 AM to 7 PM is family day with family activities, children's entertainment, and a more relaxed program — a final opportunity before the Sommerfarben series ends for the year.

Herrenberg — Half-Timbered Town on the Edge of the Schönbuch

Herrenberg (around 31,000 inhabitants, Böblingen district, postal code 08115) is located on the western edge of the Schönbuch forest area, in the Stuttgart region. The town is known for its intact half-timbered old town with the Gothic Collegiate Church and its market square, which has been the social center since the Middle Ages. The Stadtkapelle Herrenberg e.V. is one of the town's most traditional music clubs and has been coordinating the city festival for years — the musical focus of the program reflects this connection to the music club tradition.