Perlesreuter Schmalzlerfest

Local Festival with Lower Bavarian Tradition

The Perlesreuter Schmalzlerfest is a fixture in the Bavarian Forest event calendar. For four days — from Friday to Monday — the Perlesreut sports field becomes the center of the market town. A festival tent, brass music, party bands, and a rich program of customs make the festival the social highlight of the summer.

What is a Schmalzlerfest?

The name refers to 'Schmalzler', a special snuff tobacco closely associated with the region. Perlesreut was historically a center for the production and consumption of this tobacco. The festival keeps this tradition alive — most visibly in the big 'Wettschnupfen' on Sunday.

The Big Wettschnupfen (Snuff Competition)

The highlight of the festival is the snuff tobacco competition on Sunday under the motto 'Snuff as long as your nose holds out!'. Whether passionate snuffers or newcomers — everyone is welcome to compete. Participants come from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria; guests have also participated with surprising results.

Four-Day Program

The festival kicks off on Friday with a festive parade followed by brass music. Saturday is dedicated to party and mood music, Sunday begins with the Weißbier Frühschoppen and culminates in the 'Wettschnupfen' and a Bavarian evening with a grand raffle. Monday is the children's and seniors' afternoon with a children's parade and the day of the businesses.

Perlesreut — Market Town in the Bavarian Forest

Perlesreut is a market town in the Freyung-Grafenau district in the state of Bavaria, in the heart of the Bavarian Forest. With over 600 members, SV Perlesreut is the largest club in the municipality and organizes the festival on a voluntary basis — a prime example of community spirit in rural Lower Bavaria.