Selbitz Homeland and Meadow Festival

Folk Festival with a Long History

The Selbitz Homeland and Meadow Festival looks back on a tradition that dates far back into the 19th century: the 2026 edition is already the 178th iteration. The festival is held over four days in July on the Anger — the central festival meadow in the south of Selbitz. The organizer is the town of Selbitz, which organizes the festival together with three festival hosts: the Gasthof Napoleon (Jörg Vogel), the Zimmerstutzen-Schützengesellschaft 1898 e.V. Weidesgrün (Chairman: Ralf Meister), and the Spielvereinigung 1914 e.V. Selbitz (Chairwoman: Isabell Kirschner).

Parade and Beer Tapping

Traditionally, the event kicks off with a grand parade through the town center — led by the town, followed by traditional costume groups, shooting societies, music bands, clubs, the fire department, and floats. Afterwards, the beer tapping ceremony takes place in the festival tent. The Meadow Festival emphasizes a high degree of local connection: clubs, school classes, traditional costume groups, and marksmen shape the festival's image — a festival made by and for the town itself.

Program in the Festival Tent

The three festival hosts provide a variety of music genres in the festival tent daily — from hearty brass music during the day to party and cover bands in the evening. The traditional shooting competition of the Zimmerstutzen Society is a fixed part of the program. Outside the festival tent, amusement rides, an amusement park, and stalls for sausages, sweets, and games offer the usual folk festival attractions.

Selbitz in the Frankenwald

The town of Selbitz, located in the Hof district in Upper Franconia (State of Bavaria) on the river of the same name, the Selbitz, has about 4,000 inhabitants. The Frankenwald region is characterized by dense forests, small rivers, and its own folk cultural tradition between Franconia, Vogtland, and Thuringia. The Homeland and Meadow Festival preserves this identity — the parade showcases the traditional costumes, shooting traditions, and musical culture of the entire surrounding area.