Schelklingen Stadtfest

Community Festival at the Foot of the Swabian Jura

Schelklingen — a town of around 7,000 inhabitants in the Alb-Donau district of Baden-Württemberg — traditionally hosts its Stadtfest on the last weekend of July. The festival takes place concentrated between the town hall and the library: not an sprawling urban backdrop, but a dense community festival with short distances that puts the local clubs at the center. The motto „Mir send oiga, aber herzlich“ (We are unique, but warm-hearted) perfectly captures the Swabian self-image of the event.

From Barrel Tapping to Family Sunday

Saturday begins at 5 PM with the Fassanstich (barrel tapping) by the mayor, musically accompanied by the Stadtkapelle Schelklingen (town band). From 8:30 PM, a dance band (in previous years, among others, Magic Moments) takes the stage and keeps the mood going until late into the night; the bar traditionally doesn't close until 2 AM on Saturday. Face painting, a cocktail bar, a chocolate-covered fruit stand, and club stalls offering regional food line the festival mile.

Sunday is dedicated to the family: 10:30 AM ökumenischer Gottesdienst (ecumenical church service), followed by a concert by the Schmiechen music association. In the afternoon, the Moonay dance school, TSV Schelklingen with judo demonstrations, the Catholic kindergarten with a musical contribution, the youth band JuKa Schmiechen-Schelklingen, and the Blaubeuren-Laichingen-Schelklingen music school take turns presenting their programs. For children, the Blautopfbähnle — the little steam train that normally goes to the Blautopf in Blaubeuren — is available for rides, along with puppet theater and activities in the town library. The town museum is open on Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Revival After Corona Break

The Stadtfest in its current form is part of the festival culture that was revived after a four-year break during and after the Corona period. The town of Schelklingen organizes the event together with local clubs — Stadtkapelle, TSV Schelklingen, Tanzschule Moonay, JuKa Schmiechen-Schelklingen, and the regional music school — thus creating the annual highlight of club activities.

Schelklingen — Gateway to the Swabian Jura

Schelklingen is located at the transition from the Danube valley to the Swabian Jura and is home to the Blautopf region and the karst caves Geißenklösterle and Hohle Fels — UNESCO World Heritage site “Caves and Ice Age Art of the Swabian Jura”. The Stadtfest is one of the region's summer highlights and complements hikes in the Schmiechtal valley or visits to the caves on the day before or after.