Lichterfest Gmund am Tegernsee

One of the lake festivals on Lake Tegernsee

The Lichterfest in Gmund is part of the traditional lake festival season on Lake Tegernsee, which also includes the lake festival in Bad Wiessee, the Tegernseer Seefest, and the Rottacher Seefest. The organizer is the Sportfreunde Gmund-Dürnbach e.V., which has been hosting the festival on the lake promenade in Gmund on the northern shore of Lake Tegernsee for years.

1,200 candles on the lake

The highlight is the moment when, as darkness falls, around 1,200 burning candles in small boats are released onto Lake Tegernsee. The floating lights slowly drift across the water against the mountain backdrop – a quiet, almost meditative experience that makes the Lichterfest one of the most impressive folk festivals (Volksfeste) in the Bavarian pre-Alps.

Program and Music

• 4:00 PM – Festival start at Gmund lake promenade
• 5:00 PM – Performance by the Gasteiger Musikanten (traditional folk music)
• 5:30 PM – Performance by the gymnastics children of Sportfreunde Gmund-Dürnbach
• Evening – LakeSide Bigband with swing and jazz classics
• Dusk – Launching of the 1,200 candles onto the lake

Steckerlfisch and cake by the lake

At the stalls along the promenade, the Sportfreunde and local restaurateurs offer regional specialties: Steckerlfisch (fish grilled on a stick) from a charcoal grill, homemade cakes, coffee, beer, and wine. A summery, relaxed lake festival atmosphere, far from mass tourism.

Gmund and Lake Tegernsee

Gmund am Tegernsee is located in the district of Miesbach in Upper Bavaria (Bavaria), on the northern shore of Lake Tegernsee, where the Mangfall river leaves the lake. With just under 6,000 inhabitants, Gmund is one of the quieter Tegernsee communities – the Lichterfest on the lake promenade is an important moment of identity for the locals and a well-kept secret experience for holidaymakers.