Volksfest Eichstätt
Ten-day folk festival in the Altmühltal valley with beer tent, amusement rides, sports Sunday, and a grand parade
About Volksfest Eichstätt
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The Folk Festival of the Altmühltal
The Volksfest Eichstätt is the traditional summer folk festival of the episcopal city of Eichstätt in the Eichstätt district (Upper Bavaria, Bavaria). For ten days between late August and early September, the festival grounds are transformed into a small Bavarian Wiesn – with a beer tent, amusement rides, regional delicacies, Franconian wine, festival beer, and a program ranging from brass music to cover bands. The event is organized by the Volksfestausschuss Eichstätt e.V., based at Am Haselberg in Eichstätt.
Beer Tent and Amusement Rides
The beer tent is the centerpiece: cozy brass music during snack time, lively party and cover bands in the evenings, and show bands on peak weekends. Around it, the latest amusement rides, shooting galleries, an amusement park for families, and a dining area with Bavarian and Franconian specialties.
Highlights of the Festival Program
- Bauernerchta – traditional farmers' evening with folk music
- Family Day with Children's Parade – reduced prices on amusement rides, program for families
- Sports Sunday – boxing matches in the beer tent, half marathon “Volksfestlauf" through the Altmühltal
- Day of the Clubs – performances and beer tent programs by Eichstätt clubs
- Grand Parade with the Wiesnkönigin (Fair Queen) and traditional costume groups
- Coronation of the Wiesnkönigin and proclamation of the Festival Marksman King
Eichstätt and the Altmühltal
Eichstätt, with around 13,500 inhabitants, is the seat of a bishop and home to the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt – the only Catholic university in Germany. The city is located in the heart of the Altmühltal Nature Park, one of Germany's largest nature parks, known for its Jurassic limestone cliffs, the meandering Altmühl valley, and its history as the seat of the Prince-Bishopric of Eichstätt. The folk festival has regional significance beyond the city and attracts guests from the neighboring municipalities of Lenting, Böhmfeld, Wettstetten, Großmehring, and Denkendorf.
History and Tradition
The folk festival is in the tradition of Bavarian Wiesn festivals: regionally rooted, intergenerational, with a clear mix of folk festival classics (beer tent, amusement rides, festival beer) and modern elements (cover bands, boxing in the tent). Admission to the festival grounds is free.
Volksfest Eichstätt — edition 2026
2026 Edition – Ten Festival Days in the Altmühltal
The Volksfest Eichstätt 2026 runs from Friday, August 28 to Sunday, September 6. The festival opens with the traditional tapping of the keg and the crowning of the Wiesnkönigin, as well as the proclamation of the Festival Marksman King. The host family's beer tent offers a continuous program of regional brass music and lively party and cover bands over the ten days.
Sports Sunday and Half Marathon
The first festival weekend features Sports Sunday: boxing matches in the beer tent in the afternoon, and the Eichstätt Volksfestlauf half marathon through the Altmühltal in the morning (August 30, 2026). Registration via the festival website.
Family Day and Parade
Family Day with a children's parade brings reduced prices on amusement rides and a dedicated stage program for families. The grand parade forms up with the Wiesnkönigin, traditional costume groups, brass bands, and floats, proceeding from the city center to the festival grounds.
Programme Volksfest Eichstätt 2026
Opening – Friday, August 28, 2026
- Tapping of the keg, crowning of the Wiesnkönigin, proclamation of the Festival Marksman King
- Beer tent evening with regional brass music
First Festival Weekend
- Saturday – Beer tent evening with party and cover band
- Sports Sunday, August 30 – Half marathon “Volksfestlauf" in the morning, boxing afternoon in the beer tent
Midweek
- Bauernerchta – traditional farmers' evening with folk music
- Day of the Clubs – performances and beer tent programs by Eichstätt clubs
- Family Day with children's parade, reduced prices on amusement rides
Parade Sunday
- Grand parade with traditional costume groups, Wiesnkönigin, and floats
- Beer tent program with show band
Festival Finale – Sunday, September 6, 2026
- Grand closing weekend with show band in the beer tent
Highlights Volksfest Eichstätt 2026
Prices Volksfest Eichstätt 2026
Practical information — Volksfest Eichstätt
Getting There
Eichstätt is accessible via the A9 motorway (exit Lenting or Altmannstein); Eichstätt Stadt train station is within walking distance of the festival grounds. The main train station, Eichstätt, with connections to the Munich-Nuremberg line, is connected by city bus. Ample parking is available on the festival grounds and at the Altmühltal Nature Park.
Tickets
Admission to the festival grounds is free. Food and drinks in the beer tent are à la carte. Individual events (boxing, half marathon registration) may be subject to a fee – see program at www.volksfest-eichstaett.de.
On Site
Large beer tent with brass music and cover bands, modern amusement rides, Bavarian-Franconian delicacies, festival beer and Franconian wine, game stalls. Family Day with reduced prices.
Contact
Volksfestausschuss Eichstätt e.V., Am Haselberg 18, 85072 Eichstätt, Tel. 08421/706349, [email protected]
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Volksfest Eichstätt al mejor precio.
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