Suhler Volksfest

Suhl — Weapons City in the Thuringian Forest

Suhl, with around 35,000 inhabitants, is an independent city located in the south of the Thuringian Forest, on the edge of the Thuringian Forest Nature Park. The city is known as the Weapons City — iron has been forged here and rifles, pistols, and hunting weapons have been manufactured since the 16th century. Today, it houses the renowned German Weapons Museum. The city center with the Platz der Deutschen Einheit as the central market square and the Suhl Town Hall provides the ideal backdrop for Volksfests, which have been celebrated here for generations.

Twelve Days of Showman Tradition

The Suhler Volksfest lasts for twelve days — an exceptionally long festival period that includes two weekends and several weekdays. On the Platz der Deutschen Einheit, you'll find a row of rides: bumper cars, Break-Dancer, chain swings, children's carousels, a log flume, a Ferris wheel. Game stalls like duck fishing, ball throwing, shooting galleries, and tombola stalls are part of the regular repertoire. The food and drink offerings include Bratwurst and steak stands, crêpes, candied almonds, ice cream stands, and beer tents with draft beer. Family businesses from Thuringia, Bavaria, and Saxony travel for the festival — many have been participating for generations.

Keg Tapping, Family Day, Fireworks

Three highlights structure the festival period: The tapping of the first beer keg on Saturday with the Lord Mayor officially opens the festival — in local tradition, the first tap belongs to the head of the city. The Family Day on Wednesday offers reduced prices for rides and snacks — particularly attractive for parents and grandparents. The grand finale is the fireworks display on the last Saturday around 9:30 PM — a pyrotechnic show over Suhl's city center, visible far beyond the city limits.

Suhl, Schmiedefeld, Thuringian Forest

In the state of Thuringia and the independent city of Suhl, the Volksfest is one of the most important dates in the festival calendar. Suhl is strategically located: south of the Rennsteig, east of the Bavarian Forest, west of Meiningen and Schmalkalden. Visitors come from the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen, the district of Hildburghausen, the southern Wartburg district, and from Upper Franconia in Bavaria. Anyone who wants to combine Suhl's weapons tradition, Schmiedefeld's Rennsteig atmosphere, and Volksfest spirit in one weekend will find it here.