Traditional Lindau Children's Festival

A Festival with Over 360 Years of History

The Traditional Lindau Children's Festival is the largest and oldest traditional festival in the town of Lindau (Lake Constance) in the district of Lindau, in the state of Bavaria. Its roots date back to 1654: At that time, councilor Dr. Valentin Heyder suggested that the youth, neglected by the horrors of the Thirty Years' War, should be edified and improved through sermons. Since 1662, the festival has followed a fixed sequence, preserved over the centuries.

The Festival Day on the Island

Traditionally, it is celebrated on the last Wednesday before the Bavarian summer holidays. The day begins early:

• at 6 a.m., drummers, the youth band, and gunshots wake up Lindau Island
• Festive service to kick things off
• Grand procession of the children through the historic island old town
• Ceremony at the Old Town Hall with the communal song 'Lindau hoch'
• Distribution of the traditional Butschelle, a sweet raisin pastry, and vouchers for amusement rides

Living Customs on Lake Constance

The Children's Festival is more than just fun for the little ones: It is an identity-forming traditional festival that connects generations and makes the town's history tangible. The Butschelle and the song 'Lindau hoch' are integral parts that every child in Lindau knows.

Lindau – The Island Town on Lake Constance

Lindau (Lake Constance) is a Bavarian island town located in the border triangle of Germany–Austria–Switzerland. The picturesque old town on the island with its historic harbor forms the unique backdrop for the Children's Festival – a living piece of Bavarian local history by the lake.