Karpfhamer Fest & Rottalschau

The Volksfest of the Rottal

When the festival grounds of Karpfham, a district of Bad Griesbach im Rottal in the Lower Bavarian district of Passau, are transformed into a small town of beer tents, carousels, and exhibition halls at the end of August, one of the largest folk festivals in Lower Bavaria begins: the Karpfhamer Fest. For six days, from Thursday to Tuesday, around 500,000 visitors from Bavaria, Upper Austria, and all of Southern Germany meet here – a comparison with the Wiesn is not far-fetched, but in Karpfham, the character remains more rural and cordial.

Six "Hütten" with 19,000 Seats

Instead of "tents," the people of Karpfham refer to their "Hütten" – a term lovingly preserved from the early days of the festival. Six of these Hütten offer a total of nearly 19,000 seats. Each brewery runs its own with its own music, its own audience, and its own character. The Rottaler Hütte is considered the festival center: it's where the tapping ceremony takes place, where receptions for honored guests are held, and where the Bavarian Minister-President traditionally gives his speech at the political Frühschoppen.

The Rottalschau – Agriculture You Can Touch

Running parallel to the folk festival is the Rottalschau, one of the most important agricultural fairs in Southern Germany. On 70,000 m² of outdoor space and 6,000 m² of indoor space, over 600 exhibitors from Germany and neighboring countries present agricultural machinery, animal husbandry, forestry, and everything a modern agricultural sector needs. Horse and mare shows, cattle shows, and riding tournaments complement the program – the Rottal is an old horse breeding region.

The Famous Rottaler Zehnerzug

Arguably the most spectacular sight of the festival is the Rottaler Zehnerzug: a team of ten horses, driven by a single coachman – Helmut Fischer holds the reins. This unique display of living horse breeding tradition is presented twice during the festival and attracts thousands of onlookers each time.

A Volksfest with Roots in the Horse Market

The origins of the Karpfhamer Fest likely lie in a horse market or horse show – the Rottal has been known as a horse breeding area for centuries. From this agricultural meeting point, the current folk festival developed over generations, crowning the Lower Bavarian festival season every year at the end of August. Admission to the festival grounds and the Hütten is free – a tradition that Karpfham consciously upholds.