Onolzheimer Hammeltanz Crailsheim

Onolzheimer Hammeltanz — 550 Years of Living Tradition

When the streets of Onolzheim are decorated with fir green and colorful ribbons on the third Sunday in October, one of the oldest folk festivals in Baden-Württemberg begins: the Onolzheimer Hammeltanz. Since 1476 — when Baroness Barbara von Zipplingen introduced the custom as part of the Kirchweih tradition — the Crailsheim district has celebrated the festival annually on the third weekend in October. This makes the Hammeltanz, alongside the Cannstatter Volksfest, one of the most traditional festivals in the state.

The Tradition — Dancing for the Ram

At the heart of the festival is the eponymous Hammeltanz (ram dance) itself: unmarried couples from the village dance in a festive competition for a donated ram, which was traditionally awarded to the winning couple. This symbolic courtship for the ram was once part of the betrothal process and is today a unique testament to Southern German folk culture. Since 2024, for animal welfare reasons, no live animal is carried in the parade — but the custom lives on in its symbolic form.

Program 2026 — Four Days of Celebration in Onolzheim

The Hammeltanz spans four days: Friday evening marks the start with the traditional Kirchweih gathering in the Onolzheim inns, where villagers and guests get into the mood for the weekend. Saturday is the ceremonial washing day of the festive centerpiece and a preparation day. Sunday, October 18, 2026, the first parade takes place from 1:30 PM through the decorated village streets with floats and dance groups. Monday, October 19, 2026, the second major parade with around 30 groups crowns the festival. Afterwards, the winning couple processes into the festival hall, where the celebration continues late into the night.

Onolzheim — A Village of Crailsheim Tradition

Onolzheim is located about 4 km northwest of Crailsheim's city center and has been part of the city of Crailsheim in the Schwäbisch Hall district since 1971. With around 1,300 inhabitants, the village has retained its rural character — an important prerequisite for the Hammeltanz to have survived unbroken for five centuries. The Hohenlohe-Franconia region in northeastern Baden-Württemberg is generally rich in old customs, but the Onolzheimer Hammeltanz holds a prominent position among them.

International Folk Art Heritage

The festival is recognized by the International Council of Organizations of Folklore Festivals and Folk Arts (CIOFF) as significant cultural heritage. Dance groups from all over the Hohenlohe region, traditional costume associations, music bands, and volunteers from Onolzheim and neighboring communities organize the festival together. For visitors from all over Southern Germany, the Hammeltanz is a must-attend event in the October calendar — an authentic piece of lived folk culture far from tourist spectacles.