Leutkirch Historical Children's and Heritage Festival

Over 200 Years of Tradition

The Leutkirch Children's Festival is one of the oldest heritage festivals in Baden-Württemberg. The first verifiable predecessors date back to the early 19th century, when schools, citizens, and clubs jointly maintained the tradition. Today, the festival is firmly in the hands of Leutkirch's schools, clubs, and the town community — a four-day heritage festival in midsummer that thrives on the traditions of the Allgäu region.

Wilhelmshöhe Festival Grounds

The venue is Wilhelmshöhe, a festival meadow dotted with light oaks on the edge of the old town, just a few minutes' walk from the market square and St. Martin's Church. The festival backdrop between old oaks and forests is one of the characteristic images of the Leutkirch summer. The meadow features a large festival tent, a classic funfair with rides, club stalls, food stands, and stages.

The School Parade — Highlight on Tuesday

The highlight of the festival is the colorful school parade on Tuesday, the last day of the festival. Hundreds of Leutkirch schoolchildren march through the old town in historical costumes, occupational outfits, traditional Allgäu clothing, and as fairy tale characters. They are accompanied by music bands, floats, riders, and festival groups — a picture book of Allgäu customs. Thousands of spectators line the streets, many coming from all over the Allgäu region specifically for this morning.

Local Clubs, Child-Friendly Program

The local clubs deliberately organize a child-friendly program as a contrast to the commercial funfair: hands-on activities, craft workshops, children's games, sports competitions, school performances, storytelling, and old-fashioned children's games. The festival aims not only to entertain but also to pass on Allgäu heritage culture to the next generation.

International Partner Towns

A special feature of the Leutkirch Children's Festival is the delegations from the partner towns: Bédarieux, Lamalou-les-Bains, and Hérépian from Southern France, as well as Castiglione delle Stiviere from Italy. Representatives from these towns come to Leutkirch with their own groups, traditional costumes, and gifts — living town twinning during the Allgäu summer days.

Leutkirch in the Allgäu

Leutkirch in the Allgäu is located in the Ravensburg district in southern Baden-Württemberg, on the eastern edge of the Upper Swabian hill country bordering the Allgäu. The former imperial city with its well-preserved old town, the Bock Tower, and the town walls is one of the most beautiful medium-sized towns in the region.