Umsonst & Draußen Festival Weingarten

U&D Weingarten — Volunteer Festival with a Long Tradition

The Umsonst & Draußen Festival Weingarten is one of the well-known, voluntarily organized open-air festivals in Southern Germany. For years, the festival site at Nessenreben in Weingarten (Ravensburg district), not far from the outdoor pool, has been its venue. The organizer is the non-profit association U&D Weingarten e.V., supported by dozens of volunteers who manage stages, stalls, catering, and logistics every year.

What You Can Expect

Two days of festival with two stages — a main stage featuring the streamed concert series, and a second stage for DJs and electronic sets. The program regularly mixes indie, rock, pop, electronic, and roots music. Well-known names alternate with young, regional acts — the aim is to offer a platform for fresh voices from Southern Germany and beyond. In addition, there are stalls from local initiatives, association-run catering, a family program on Saturday afternoon, and plenty of green space to relax between concerts.

Why "Umsonst & Draußen"

The name says it all: free and outdoors. The organizers believe that culture should be a public good — no one should be excluded because of the admission fee. Funding comes from on-site donations, catering revenue, local sponsors, and public grants. If the festival is successful, the money goes towards the next edition. It is one of the few festivals that has upheld this idea for decades.

Weingarten and the Schussental Valley

Weingarten is the smaller sister city of Ravensburg in the Upper Swabian Schussental valley — known for Weingarten Abbey and the Blutritt (Blessing of the Horses) weekend, one of Europe's largest equestrian processions. The U&D adds a modern, young, alternative component to the city's profile: pop and indie instead of baroque and tradition. Both are part of Weingarten.