804th Schützen- und Volksfest Goslar

804 Years of Folk Festival — An Extraordinary Tradition

The Schützen- und Volksfest Goslar is one of the oldest continuously celebrated folk festivals in Europe. The Privileged Marksmen's Society of Goslar was founded in 1220 — more than 800 years ago. This extraordinary tradition makes the event a cultural heritage that reflects the history of Goslar as a medieval imperial city and mining center. With its 804th edition in 2026, a piece of living history continues.

Southern Lower Saxony's Largest Marksmen's and Folk Festival

The Goslar Schützen- und Volksfest is the largest marksmen's and folk festival in southern Lower Saxony. With over 300,000 expected visitors, an 80,000 square meter festival ground, and around 50 rides, it operates on a scale far beyond regional folk festivals. Showmen from all over Germany travel annually to present their attractions at the Osterfeld festival grounds.

Festival Grounds at Osterfeld on Schützenallee

The festival grounds at Osterfeld on Schützenallee offer ample space for this major event. 80,000 square meters allow for the setup of numerous attractions with sufficient pathway widths, several beer tents, gastronomic areas, and amenities. Its location outside the historic old town protects the UNESCO World Heritage city center while enabling connectivity via Park & Ride services.

Festival Opening and Program Highlights 2026

The festival begins on Friday, July 3rd, 2026, at 3 PM with the official opening ceremony. This is followed by the first fireworks display at 11 PM — an initial pyrotechnic highlight. On Saturday, July 4th, 2026, at 2:30 PM, the grand parade will march through the Goslar city center — a tradition that attracts tens of thousands of spectators along the route. On Friday, July 10th, 2026, the second fireworks display at 11 PM will take place — the pyrotechnic highlight of the festival. The closing ceremony is on Sunday, July 12th, 2026.

Attractions, Beer Tents, and Gastronomy

Around 50 attractions are spread across the festival grounds: a Ferris wheel with panoramic views, the Wilde Maus classic roller coaster, other rides for all ages, children's carousels, a haunted house, and much more. Beer tents featuring a Bavarian brasserie and the Café Kajüte offer refreshments in various atmospheres. Classic folk festival cuisine — bratwurst, fried dough twists (Schmalzkuchen), almonds, crêpes, beer, and wine — complements the gastronomic offerings.

Park & Ride for a Relaxed Arrival

The city of Goslar offers Park & Ride services that run from the Baßgeige and Gerhard-Weule-Straße parking lots to the festival grounds. This solution relieves congestion in the city center and allows for a relaxed arrival — an important measure given the large visitor numbers.