Michelstadt Bee Market
Grand Pentecost Volksfest in the Odenwald with Queen Bee Auction and Flower Parade
2026
About Bee Market Michelstadt
Bee Market Michelstadt — edition 2026
The 70th anniversary edition follows the established program choreography over ten days. A deliberate novelty for 2026: the pendulum ride "Hypnotizer". Showmen, the beekeepers' association, and the city are organizing the festival together.
Highlights Bee Market Michelstadt 2026
- 70th Anniversary Edition
- New pendulum ride "Hypnotizer"
- Queen Bee Auction in the Erwin-Hasenzahl-Halle
- Grand Fireworks display on May 29th
- Flower Parade on Whit Monday
Programme Bee Market Michelstadt 2026
Friday, May 22, 2026 — Opening
- Official opening with keg tapping
- Beer tents and rides open
Wednesday, May 27, 2026 — Children's Day
- 3:00–5:00 p.m. — Market rally through the Michelstadt old town
- Children's program on the festival grounds
Thursday, May 28, 2026 — Family Day
- Reduced ride prices at all showman attractions
Friday, May 29, 2026 — City Run & Fireworks
- 41st Michelstadt City Run through the historic old town, organized by TSV Weiten-Gesäß
- Awards ceremony afterward
- 10:30 p.m. — Grand Fireworks display
Whit Monday, May 31, 2026 — Climax
- 10:00 a.m. — Queen Bee Auction in the Erwin-Hasenzahl-Halle (Odenwald Beekeepers' Association)
- 1:30 p.m. — Flower Parade through the city streets
- Final beer tent evening
Rides (Selection)
- Hypnotizer — Pendulum ride (New for 2026)
- Ferris wheel "Juwel"
- Bumper cars
- XXL slide "Happy Slide"
- Mini bumper cars (newly built)
- Children's adventure area "Pirates Adventure"
Markets
- Flea market with approx. 50 exhibitors in the old town
- Beekeeper and bee product stalls
- Beer tents with live music and DJs
Prices Bee Market Michelstadt 2026
Free admission to the festival grounds and market. Rides cost between €2 and €8 per ride. Family Day with reduced prices on May 28th. Free entry to beer tents, food and drinks are charged.
Practical information — Bee Market Michelstadt
Period
May 22nd to 31st, 2026 (10 days around Pentecost).
Admission
Free entry to the festival grounds and market. Rides and food/drinks are charged. Family Day with reduced ride prices on May 28th.
Arrival by Public Transport
Michelstadt station (Odenwaldbahn RB Frankfurt–Eberbach), 10-minute walk to the festival grounds. Special OREG services run late into the night on market weekends — lines 30, 40, 41, 45, 50 with a dedicated Bee Market stop on Wiesenweg. Guaranteed-mobil shuttle taxi at 06061 9799-77.
Arrival by Car
Via B45 (Hanau–Eberbach), Michelstadt exit. Parking in the city center is limited — public transport recommended.
Contact
Michelstadt Tourist Information, Marktplatz 1, 64720 Michelstadt. Tel. 06061 74610, [email protected].
70 Years of Bee Market in the Odenwald
In 2026, the Michelstadt Bee Market celebrates 70 years of tradition and is considered one of the largest Pentecost folk festivals in Hesse. Since the 1950s, the festival has been celebrated in Michelstadt – one of the most beautiful half-timbered towns in the Odenwald – for ten days between Ascension Day and the Monday after Pentecost. The City of Michelstadt is the organizer, hosting the event together with the Odenwald Beekeepers' Association.
The Queen Bee Auction
The namesake and unique feature: the Queen Bee Auction. On the last day of the market, the Odenwald Beekeepers' Association auctions queen bees at 10 a.m. in the Erwin-Hasenzahl-Halle – a rare tradition in Germany where beekeepers from all over southern Germany purchase purebred queens for their colonies. This makes the Bee Market not only a folk festival but also a real trade fair for beekeeping.
Rides and the New "Hypnotizer"
Around 40 rides operate on the large festival grounds: the Ferris wheel "Juwel", bumper cars, the XXL slide "Happy Slide", a newly built mini bumper car ride, and the children's play area "Pirates Adventure". New for 2026: the pendulum ride "Hypnotizer" with high speeds and outward-rotating gondolas.
Beer Tents, Crafts, and Market
Several large beer tents and wine stands provide atmosphere in the evenings with live bands and DJ sets. In the craft and flea market along the old town streets, around 50 exhibitors sell clothing, jewelry, gifts, and regional specialties. Beekeepers and bee products have their own dedicated stalls at the market.
Program Highlights
Fixed program points are spread over ten days: the Children's Day on the first Wednesday with a rally through the old town (3–5 p.m.), Family Day on Thursday with reduced ride prices, the 41st Michelstadt City Run on May 29th (organized by TSV Weiten-Gesäß) with an awards ceremony afterward, the Grand Fireworks on May 29th at 10:30 p.m., the Flower Parade on Whit Monday at 1:30 p.m. through the city streets, and the Queen Bee Auction.
Arrival and Special Services
OREG and Odenwälder Transport Services set up extensive special services on the market weekends: Bus lines 30, 40, 41, 45, and 50 run late into the night, plus additional evening services on CityBus lines 1, 4, and 5. A dedicated Bee Market stop on Wiesenweg is served.
Where it takes place Bee Market Michelstadt
Bee Market Michelstadt at a glance
History of Bee Market Michelstadt
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