Hirschau Street Festival

Tübingen's Western District Shows Itself

Hirschau, with around 2,200 inhabitants, is one of Tübingen's smaller districts, located west of the university city on the slopes above the Neckar river. Until 1971, Hirschau was an independent municipality, but today it is incorporated, yet it has retained its village character — with half-timbered buildings on the main street, a village church, scattered fruit orchards on the outskirts, and vineyards above the Neckar. Once every summer, this charming district celebrates its big street festival — an event day that completely closes the main street to car traffic and builds on the communal tradition before incorporation.

A District Community in Festival Mode

The street festival is organized by the Hirschau e.V. Communications Group — the voluntary district association — together with the local clubs. The sports club, music club, church community, fire department, Albverein, country women, and local initiatives operate catering stands. The proceeds usually flow back into projects of the club community. Distributed across the main street, this creates 10 to 15 stations — from bratwurst to Maultaschen, pizza, and cocktails to ice cream and coffee.

Live Music in the Residential Streets

• Small stages at the market square and in individual squares
• Music clubs from the region and Hirschau school orchestras
• Guest performances by Tübingen pop, rock, and jazz ensembles
• Dance performances by local dance schools in the afternoon

Children's Program and Family Day

The Hirschau Street Festival is deliberately designed to be family-friendly. Bouncy castles, craft stations, face painting, play streets, and performances by local dance groups characterize the scene well into the late afternoon. Families from all over Tübingen West — including from Unterjesingen, Wankheim, or Bühl — use the festival for a relaxed day trip.

Discover a Different Tübingen

Anyone visiting Tübingen who already knows the famous old town with the Hölderlin Tower, Hohentübingen Castle, and the Neckar front can experience a different facet of the city at the Hirschau Street Festival: small-town, personal, with well-preserved half-timbered buildings and a district population that actively cultivates its village tradition. Hikes to Spitzberg or Hagellocher Berg can be easily combined with a visit to the festival.