Day of Upper Palatinate Folk Music

A Wandering Folk Music Day in the Open-Air Museum

The Day of Upper Palatinate Folk Music is one of Bavaria's most beautiful folk music events — not because of its size or prominence, but because of its special atmosphere. Instead of a stage with a frontal program, around 15 music groups and ensembles are spread across six stages throughout the grounds of the Upper Palatinate Open-Air Museum. Visitors wander through the historic farmhouses and courtyards, where different repertoires can be heard: traditional Stubenmusi, Tanzlmusi, brass groups, hammered dulcimer and zither soloists, singing groups.

In the Heart of the Northern Upper Palatinate

The Upper Palatinate Open-Air Museum is located in Neusath-Perschen, a district of Nabburg in the Upper Palatinate district of Schwandorf (Bavaria). It is one of Bavaria's most important open-air museums with over 100 rebuilt historic farmhouses, barns, hammer mills, and bakehouses. The folk music finds its natural resonance space here: in the low-ceilinged parlors, in front of the house facades, under the linden trees of the museum village.

Repertoire and Tradition

Upper Palatinate folk music differs from the Bavarian mainstream of "Stoiber hits" due to its regional origin: old dances (Boarischer, Polka, Waltz, Schottisch, Zwiefacher), Stuben pieces from the region's inns, wedding and funeral music, Goaßlschnalzen as rhythmic custom. The Upper Palatinate Folk Music Friends e.V. have been cultivating this repertoire for decades, ensuring that it remains lively music rather than mere folklore.

Singing and Dancing Instead of Consuming

The festival consciously focuses on participation: visitors are encouraged to sing along, dance along, and learn the repertoire. Dance floors in front of some stages, sing-along formats, workshop-style elements in individual program points — the Day of Upper Palatinate Folk Music is not a concert visit, but a cultural transmission. In conjunction with the museum, this creates a synergy between material folk culture (farmhouses, workshops) and intangible folk culture (music, dance, language).

Admission Included with Museum Entry

As noted at the festival: The Day of Upper Palatinate Folk Music is part of the regular museum visit. For the entrance fee to the Open-Air Museum (day pass), visitors receive the museum program and the entire concert and dance offering of the festival. An exceptionally good value for money for a Bavarian festival.