Waldachfest Oberschwandorf

Waldachfest — the summer festival on the banks of the Waldach

The Waldachfest is the annual summer festival of the Oberschwandorf Music Association "Die Musketiere". For years, it has taken place on the last weekend of July on the festival/village square of Oberschwandorf — a district of the town of Haiterbach in the Calw district. The name refers to the Waldach, the stream that flows through the village and gives it its scenic character.

The "Die Musketiere" Music Association

The Oberschwandorf Music Association bears the sonorous nickname "Die Musketiere" (The Musketeers) and is the backbone of cultural life in the district. At the Waldachfest, they naturally perform themselves, but they also traditionally invite guest bands from the surrounding communities — from the foothills of the Black Forest to the Heckengäu region. The repertoire ranges from classical brass music, polkas, and marches to more modern arrangements.

Two Days of Festival Program

Saturday starts in the afternoon with catering, leading into the evening with live brass band music under the open sky, and ending as a long festival evening in the marquee. "Enjoy your food from the grill, cold drinks from the tap wagon, and delicious cocktails at the bar accompanied by brass music" — as the association itself describes the atmosphere. On Sunday, the program begins at 10:00 AM with a festive church service, followed by the morning pint (Frühschoppen) with brass music, lunch, and coffee/cake in the afternoon, as well as a children's and youth program with a bouncy castle and games.

Culinary Delights

From the grill come Swabian classics: Rote Wurst (red sausage), pork loin steak, shashlik, bratwurst with potato salad, and fries. Served with beer from the tap wagon — usually from a regional brewery like Alpirsbacher, Roth-Bräu, or Ketterer. At the cocktail bar, summer classics like Aperol Spritz, Hugo, and Mojito are mixed. Coffee and cake on Sunday afternoon are traditionally baked by the association's women — a highlight for many regular guests.

Oberschwandorf and Haiterbach

Oberschwandorf is a district of the small town of Haiterbach (around 5,700 inhabitants in total, Calw district) on the edge of the Northern Black Forest, not far from the Nagold river and the federal highway B463. Its location in the Waldach valley makes it a quiet, rural spot in the Heckengäu region. Nestled between orchards, small forests, and fields, the Waldachfest is perfect for a weekend excursion from Calw, Nagold, Horb am Neckar, or Freudenstadt.