Memminger Fischertag

A Stream, a City, a Fishing Day

The Memminger Fischertag is the defining traditional festival of the Upper Swabian imperial city of Memmingen in the Allgäu. Its core is a simple but impactful event: once a year, the historic Stadtbach, which flows through the middle of the old town, is drained in a controlled manner, and hundreds of fishermen – wearers of the traditional costume of the Memmingen Fishermen's Guild – step into it with nets to catch trout. The catcher of the heaviest trout is crowned Fischerkönig (Fisher King) on the same morning.

From the Wake-Up Call to the Fishermen's Evening

The day begins at 6 a.m. with a wake-up call by music bands, followed by the fishermen's procession through the old town. With a cannon shot at 8 a.m., the actual fishing begins. In the afternoon, a historical camp life is scheduled at the Grimmelschanze; the day ends with the procession of the Fischerkönig and the festive Fischerabend (Fishermen's Evening) in the Stadthalle.

What to Expect

• 6:00 a.m. Wake-up call by music bands
• 7:05 a.m. Fishermen's procession through the old town
• 8:00 a.m. Start of fishing in the Stadtbach
• 10:00 a.m. Coronation brunch in the stadium
• 2:00 p.m. Historical camp life at the Grimmelschanze
• 6:00 p.m. Procession of the Fischerkönig
• 7:30 p.m. Fischerabend (Fishermen's Evening) in the Stadthalle

Kick-off to the Wallenstein Festival Week

The Fischertag directly kicks off the Wallenstein Festival Week – the historical commemoration of the siege of Memmingen by Wallenstein's troops in 1630, featuring camps, ceremonies, and reenactments throughout the old town. Together, these events make Memmingen the most visible traditional festival city in Southern Germany at the end of July.

Memmingen in the Allgäu

Memmingen, a former imperial city in the district of Memmingen, has around 45,000 inhabitants and is considered the 'Gateway to the Allgäu'. The Fischertag has been documented since the Renaissance and is part of Bavaria's intangible cultural heritage. Membership in the Fischertagsverein is a serious distinction – families in Memmingen have often been fishermen for generations and wear the traditional costume with discernible pride.