Höchstädt Meadow Festival

A Meadow Festival with a View

The Höchstädt Meadow Festival is one of Upper Franconia's classic summer festivals and has been held for generations on the Schlosshügel (Castle Hill) – a ridge above the village, where the current mountain inn is reminiscent of the former castle complex. Höchstädt in the Fichtelgebirge, a municipality with around 1,700 inhabitants in the Wunsiedel district, belongs to the so-called Sechsämterland on the border with the Czech Republic and shares a biennial meadow festival tradition with Thierstein: both towns celebrate the festival alternately in even-numbered years.

Festival Parade of Schoolchildren and Clubs

The highlight has always been the Wiesenfestzug (Meadow Festival Parade) on Saturday afternoon: Schoolchildren with flower crowns, ribbons, and traditional costumes march together with local clubs, the fire department, and the brass band from the village center up to the festival grounds on the castle hill. The parade is accompanied by music bands from the Fichtelgebirge and the neighboring Egerland – the connection to Bohemian culture still shapes the musical landscape of this region today.

From the Beer Tapping to the Frühschoppen

In the festival tent, Upper Franconian brass and dance bands provide the atmosphere; on Sunday morning, the traditional festival service followed by a Frühschoppen (morning pint) is on the program. There is also a small amusement park, stalls with Franconian bratwurst and cakes, and a children's program. The magnificent view from the castle hill over the Egertal valley towards Kösseine makes the festival grounds one of the most beautiful meadow festival locations in the Fichtelgebirge.

A Festival Before the Summer Holidays

The organizers deliberately schedule the meadow festival for the last weekend before the Bavarian summer holidays. It marks the convivial start to the holidays for schoolchildren and their families and is part of the communal annual cycle in Höchstädt – between the Landweihnacht (country Christmas) in Advent and the Kirchweih (church consecration festival) on the third weekend in September.