Summer Festival at the Franconian Open-Air Museum Bad Windsheim
Harvest work and craft techniques in the largest Franconian open-air museum
About Summer Festival Freilandmuseum
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The largest open-air museum in Southern Germany
With over 130 original historic buildings on around 45 hectares, the Franconian Open-Air Museum Bad Windsheim is the largest open-air museum in Southern Germany. Farmhouses, mills, barns, workshops, breweries, an entire synagogue — all relocated from all over Franconia and rebuilt true to the original. In the district of Neustadt an der Aisch-Bad Windsheim (Bavaria, 09575), the museum preserves the rural building culture of Franconia from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
Summer Festival — when the whole museum is working
During the Summer Festival, traditionally held on the third weekend in July, the entire museum is at its best. Harvest work is demonstrated in the fields using historical tools and machines — from scythes to the steam-powered traction engine chugging across the grounds under white smoke. Craftsmen are at work in all building groups: clog makers carve clogs, saddlers work on horse harnesses, wheelwrights build wagon wheels, and weavers sit at their looms. Three carpenters demonstrate at the pit saw how planks and boards are cut from a mighty tree trunk — strenuous work that shows what manual labor meant before the industrial revolution.
Craftsmen's Parade and New Buildings
The highlight of each Summer Festival day is the craftsmen's parade at 1 p.m., which leads all the trades through the museum. Those who know the museum know: new relocated buildings are added every year, often with their own opening at the Summer Festival. Hands-on activities for children — from climbing hay bales to baking bread — run parallel all day long.
Tradition and Science
Behind the popular festival character lies a scientifically working museum: building researchers, restorers, and folklorists document and convey the history of rural construction and living environments in Franconia. The Summer Festival makes this research visible — as living history to touch, not behind glass.
Summer Festival Freilandmuseum — edition 2026
The 2026 Summer Festival — Harvest Time at the Open-Air Museum
Over two festival days, July 20th and 21st, 2026, the Franconian Open-Air Museum Bad Windsheim will present its annual Summer Festival highlight. In the fields, historical harvesting machinery will be in operation — scythes, binders, horse-drawn teams, and the steam-powered traction engine as the star of the demonstrations.
In all building groups, the museum's craftsmen will be at work, demonstrating old craft techniques: clog makers, saddlers, wheelwrights, and weavers will showcase their trades. At the pit saw, the carpenters of the open-air museum will demonstrate how planks and boards are cut from a mighty tree trunk using hand saws — work that historically required three men.
Programme Summer Festival Freilandmuseum 2026
Daily Program Summer Festival 2026
- 9:00 AM — Opening of the museum grounds (last admission 5:00 PM, ticket office closes 5:30 PM)
- All day — Harvest work in the fields: scythes, binders, horse-drawn teams
- All day — Traction engines under steam, demonstrations across the grounds
- All day — Craft demonstrations in all building groups: clog makers, saddlers, wheelwrights, weavers, wool spinners, blacksmiths, bread bakers, book restorers
- 1:00 PM — Craftsmen's parade through the entire museum area
- Special tour — Pit saw: three carpenters demonstrate the processing of a tree trunk into planks and boards
- New in 2026: Opening and viewing of the relocated temporary structure from Steinach a.d.Ens
- Hands-on activities for children in the building groups — bread baking, hay bales, beekeeping, small craft courses (material costs €0.50–€2.50)
- Catering in the museum restaurant with Franconian specialties
Current program and special events: freilandmuseum.de.
Highlights Summer Festival Freilandmuseum 2026
- Harvest work in the fields with historical tools and horse-drawn teams
- Steam traction engines in operation on the museum grounds
- Craftsmen's parade at 1 PM — all trades together through the museum
- Pit saw: Live demonstration by three carpenters
- New building in 2026: Temporary structure from Steinach a.d.Ens, viewable for the first time
Prices Summer Festival Freilandmuseum 2026
Admission regular museum rates: Adults €9, concessions €6–€8, children under 6 free. Family ticket (2 adults + children) €21. School classes €3 per child, groups of 17+ people €8 per person. Annual pass €45. Hands-on activities for children may incur additional material costs of €0.50 to €2.50.
Practical information — Summer Festival Freilandmuseum
Getting There
Car: A7 exit Bad Windsheim, follow signs for Freilandmuseum. Parking directly at the museum entrance.
Train: Bad Windsheim station, approx. 25 min. walk or local bus from there.
Address: Eisweiherweg 1, 91438 Bad Windsheim.
Admission
Adults €9, concessions €6–€8, children under 6 free. Family ticket (2 adults + children): €21. School classes: €3 per child. Tickets are valid for the entire festival day. Annual pass €45.
Tips
Bring sturdy footwear and weather protection — the museum is outdoors on 45 hectares. Plan for two days to see the entire program. Catering available in the historic museum restaurant.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Summer Festival Freilandmuseum
Fränkisches Freilandmuseum Bad Windsheim
Eisweiherweg 1, 91438 Bad Windsheim