Todtmoos Festival of Lights 2026

Todtmoos — A Health Resort in the High Black Forest

Todtmoos is located at an altitude of around 820 meters in the High Black Forest, south of Feldberg. With just under 1,800 inhabitants, the municipality is a well-known health resort, characterized by a mild Black Forest summer climate and a long tradition as a spa center. The town's landmark is the baroque pilgrimage church of Mariä Himmelfahrt (Assumption of Mary), one of the most important Marian pilgrimage sites in the Black Forest.

Festival of Lights on the Feast of the Assumption

The Festival of Lights takes place every year on August 15 — the high feast of Mariä Himmelfahrt (Assumption of Mary) in the Catholic Church and a public holiday in Baden-Württemberg in Catholic communities. In Todtmoos, the religious festival has been combined with the secular Festival of Lights in the Kurpark for years — a dual occasion that particularly shapes the community.

From 7:00 PM — Magic of Lights

The festival begins at 7:00 PM in the Alten Kurpark (Old Spa Park) — the historic spa park of the municipality with old trees, fountains, and benches. Thousands of lights will be installed in the trees, along the paths, on the water, and at the pavilion. As dusk falls from 8:30 PM and into the full night from 9:30 PM, the installation unfolds its full effect.

Music and Culinary Specialties

During the festival, music associations from the region perform — typically Black Forest brass music, folk dances, and folk acts. Culinary offerings are provided by local restaurateurs with Black Forest specialties: Schwarzwälder Schinken (Black Forest ham), smoked cheese, bratwurst, Maultaschen, and Schupfnudeln. Black Forest breweries and the famous Schwarzwälder Kirschwasser-Spritz (cherry liqueur spritzer) dominate the beverage selection.

Spa Town Atmosphere

The Festival of Lights is a fixed part of the spa town's summer program — an event that appeals equally to tourists, spa guests, and locals. The mix of a religious high feast, a warm Black Forest summer evening, and a light installation in the spa park makes this a special event that attracts visitors from far and wide.