Sixtach Hettstadt

The Patron Saint's Festival as a Village Celebration

Sixtach — the name derives from the patron saint Sixtus and the Lower Franconian word »Tach« (day) — is the annual Patron Saint's Festival of the municipality of Hettstadt in the Würzburg district. Unlike the early summer parish festival at the parish hall, Sixtach is a festival of all local clubs, celebrated on the forecourt of the Herzog-Hedan-Halle. The date follows the old church calendar: the first Sunday in August, around the feast day of St. Sixtus (August 6th/7th).

Course of the Sixtach

The festival Sunday begins at 9:00 AM with the solemn festive church service in the Catholic parish church of St. Sixtus. From 10:00 AM, the clubs open their stalls on the forecourt of the Herzog-Hedan-Halle — the modern sports and event hall of the municipality, opened in 1983. Throughout the day, brass music is played, Franconian specialties are served, and all local clubs — from the sports association to the carnival club to the music association — present themselves and take over catering and program points.

Milchhäuslesfest — The Eve

A Hettstadt peculiarity: The Sixtach Sunday is traditionally preceded by the Milchhäuslesfest on the eve. The organizer is the Sportgemeinschaft Hettstadt 1904 e.V. (the largest club in town with almost 1,000 members and 10 departments) together with the local Carnival Club. The name refers to the former Milchhäusle (milk collection point) that once stood on the festival grounds. Today, the Milchhäuslesfest is the youthful and cheerful prelude to the more official Sixtach Sunday.

Sportgemeinschaft Hettstadt — The Supporting Backbone

With almost 1,000 members and 10 sports departments (football, tennis, gymnastics, table tennis, youth sports, and much more), the SG Hettstadt 1904 e.V. is the largest club in the municipality. It significantly shapes club life in Hettstadt and is both a co-organizer of the Milchhäuslesfest and a key supporter of Sixtach Sunday during the Sixtach weekend.

Hettstadt in Western Würzburg

Hettstadt is located about eight kilometers west of Würzburg, at the transition from the Mainfranken region to the Spessart foothills — one of the most culturally dense regions of Franconia. The municipality has the Catholic parish church of St. Sixtus, a Protestant church, several schools, and with the Herzog-Hedan-Halle, a modern sports and event hall. Besides the parish festival, Sixtach is the social highlight of the year and attracts many former Hettstadt residents from Würzburg and the surrounding area back to the town.