Karpfhamer Fest & Rottalschau
Lower Bavarian Grand Volksfest with Agricultural Fair and Rottaler Zehnerzug
About Karpfhamer Fest
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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.
Karpfhamer Fest — edition 2026
The Karpfhamer Fest 2026 opens on Thursday, August 27, with the traditional procession of hosts, the opening of the Rottalschau by District Administrator Raimund Kneidinger, and the beer tapping ceremony by First Mayor Jürgen Fundke in the Rottaler Hütte. The Rottalschau, running in parallel from Friday to Tuesday, will feature over 600 exhibitors from the agricultural and forestry sectors on 70,000 m² of outdoor space and 6,000 m² of indoor space.
Highlights include the two demonstrations of the Rottaler Zehnerzug (Friday and Saturday at 2 PM each day) by Helmut Fischer, the mare show on Saturday morning, the traditional political Frühschoppen with Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder on Saturday afternoon, the grand riding tournament on Monday, the agricultural Frühschoppen with Manfred Weber, the eighth "Donkey Race" on Tuesday, and the grand finale fireworks display on Tuesday night.
Programme Karpfhamer Fest 2026
Festival Program Karpfhamer Fest 2026 – Day by Day
- Thursday, 27.08.2026 – Opening
- 3:00 PM–3:30 PM — Reception of honored guests in the Rottaler Hütte
- 3:30 PM — Opening of the Rottalschau by District Administrator Raimund Kneidinger
- 5:00 PM — Grand concert on the church square
- 6:00 PM — Procession of hosts with brewery wagons, music bands, traditional costume groups, and marksmen
- Following — Beer tapping ceremony in the Rottaler Hütte by Mayor Jürgen Fundke
- Friday, 28.08.2026 – Rottaler Zehnerzug I
- 2:00 PM — Demonstration of the famous Rottaler Zehnerzug by Helmut Fischer
- Rottalschau open 8:30 AM–6:00 PM
- Saturday, 29.08.2026 – Mare Show & Political Frühschoppen
- 8:30 AM — Grand Mare Show
- 2:00 PM — Demonstration of the Rottaler Zehnerzug
- 2:30 PM — Political Frühschoppen with Minister-President Markus Söder
- Sunday, 30.08.2026 – Festival Service
- 9:00 AM — Festive church service
- Monday, 31.08.2026 – Riding Tournament & Farmers' Frühschoppen
- 8:00 AM — Grand Riding Tournament
- 2:00 PM — Agricultural Frühschoppen with Manfred Weber (Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament)
- Tuesday, 01.09.2026 – Donkey Race & Finale Fireworks
- 3:00 PM — 8th Karpfhamer Donkey Race (show race)
- 11:00 PM — Grand Finale Fireworks
The beer tent programs of the individual Hütten (live bands, music bands daily) will be announced on karpfhamerfest.de.
Highlights Karpfhamer Fest 2026
- Rottaler Zehnerzug – unique horse team with ten horses and one coachman
- Political Frühschoppen with Minister-President Markus Söder
- Rottalschau – Agricultural fair with 600+ exhibitors
- Grand Finale Fireworks on Tuesday evening
- 8th Karpfhamer Donkey Race
- Mare show and riding tournament
Prices Karpfhamer Fest 2026
Free admission – to the festival grounds, all six Hütten, and the Rottalschau. A Maß of beer at the usual folk festival price (2025: approx. €11.80 per Maß). Food typically Franconian-Bavarian (roast chicken, pork roast, grilled fish on a stick, pretzels) at folk festival prices.
Practical information — Karpfhamer Fest
Getting There
By car: A3 exit Pocking, then B388 towards Bad Griesbach, follow signs to the festival grounds. By train: Pocking station, shuttle buses from there. Shuttle buses run between Bad Griesbach town center and the festival grounds.
Admission
Free admission to the entire festival grounds, all six Hütten, and the Rottalschau.
Opening Hours
Festival tents: from Thursday evening until Tuesday night. Rottalschau: Friday to Tuesday, 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM daily.
Accommodation
Bad Griesbach is a renowned spa town with a large selection of hotels. Book early – the Karpfhamer Fest fills the region.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Karpfhamer Fest al mejor precio.
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