Waldkirchen Civic Festival — Ringmauerfest

Civic Festival along the Old Town Wall

The Ringmauerstraße in Waldkirchen follows the former medieval town fortifications — hence the name. Today, it is a charming, cobblestone street in the old town, lined with townhouses, cafés, and shops. Once a year, on the last weekend in May, the town of Waldkirchen closes off Ringmauerstraße and turns it into its own festival mile: the Ringmauerfest, the town's civic festival.

Clubs, Hosts, and the Town — Together

What makes the Ringmauerfest special is its character as a joint festival of the town with its clubs, hosts, and businesses. Here, local restaurateurs open their doors and set up tables and benches on the street, clubs run stalls and bars, and the town administration coordinates the program. It is not a classic folk festival (Volksfest) with a tent and beer benches, but rather a street festival with its very own urban character, embedded in a historic old town setting.

What to Expect

• Music: Live bands at several points along the street, on Saturday evening, the cover band Keep Cool performs from 8 PM.
• Bars and Stalls: Regional hosts and clubs serve beer (from regional breweries), wine, and cocktails.
• Food: Bavarian specialties, from classics to street food.
• Grand Raffle: The main prize in 2026 is an e-bike worth €4,000. Tickets are available in advance.
• Atmosphere: convivial, familial — the street is busy in the evening, but not overcrowded.

Waldkirchen — The Town in the Bavarian Forest

Waldkirchen is located in the Freyung-Grafenau district, in the southern Bavarian Forest, about 30 kilometers north of Passau and 15 kilometers from the tri-border area of Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria. With just under 11,000 inhabitants, Waldkirchen is the largest town in the region (a small town in the sense of the Bavarian Municipal Code). The town is known for its glass tradition (several glassworks and glass art workshops in the surrounding area) and as a starting point for hikes in the Bavarian Forest National Park. The town marketing slogan 'Waldkirchen — simply beautiful' sums up its aspiration.

When to Go?

The festival starts on Friday at 5 PM and is usually more relaxed — good for families and for strolls through the old town. On Saturday from 11 AM, it's in full swing; the evening with Keep Cool at 8 PM is the musical highlight, and the raffle drawing takes place around 6 PM. Free admission throughout the festival period.