Fränkisches Volksfest Crailsheim

A 185-Year Tradition of Folk Festivals

The Fränkisches Volksfest in Crailsheim dates back to 1842, making it one of the oldest and most traditional folk festivals in Baden-Württemberg. The city of Crailsheim is located in the Schwäbisch Hall district (AGS 08127) — part of the Hohenlohe-Franken region with its own distinct culture between Swabia, Franconia, and Hohenlohe. The folk festival is a festival of identity and an economic highlight of the region.

185th Anniversary in 2026

The 2026 edition marks the 185th anniversary — four years before the 190th anniversary that the city is planning for the jubilee year 2031. The city administration has designated 2026 as a significant anniversary date with a special program and ceremonies.

Second-Largest Amusement Park in Baden-Württemberg

With around 90 showmen, the temporary amusement park of the Crailsheim Volksfest is the second-largest in Baden-Württemberg after Cannstatter Wasen — an astonishing achievement for a city of 35,000 inhabitants. The explanation: Crailsheim is a transport hub in the Franconian-Hohenlohe area, with a catchment area extending to Würzburg, Nuremberg, Ulm, and Stuttgart. Roller coasters, looping rides, classic carousels, haunted houses, a Ferris wheel with views over Crailsheim and the Jagst valley.

Three Festival Tents and Market

Three large festival tents provide the atmosphere — typically with live bands from the region, Schlager music, and folk music. A traditional market brings together traders from all over southern Germany, and a trade exhibition showcases companies from Crailsheim and the surrounding area — from craft businesses to industrial companies from the Hohenlohe valley.

Parades on Saturday and Sunday

On both days, Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, 2026, parades will march through the Crailsheim city center to the festival grounds. Themes for 2026 are likely to include the 185th anniversary, along with classic Hohenlohe themes: horse breeding (Crailsheim is a city of horses with historical significance), brewery traditions, regional crafts, and traditional costumes.

Spectacular Fireworks on Sunday Evening

The highlight of every edition: the spectacular fireworks on Sunday evening (September 20, 2026, expected around 10 PM). Over the festival grounds and the city center — tens of thousands of spectators on the grounds, in the streets, and on the surrounding hills.

Opening Hours

Amusement park: Fri 2 PM, Sat–Sun 10 AM, Mon 10 AM. Festival tents from midday. Compared to classic Wasen folk festivals, the Volksfest has a more popular, Franconian character — less touristy, more of a local festival.