Waldkraiburger Volksfest

60th Edition 2026 — A Jubilee Year

The Waldkraiburger Volksfest will take place for the 60th time in 2026. Since the 1960s, the eleven-day festival tent Volksfest has shaped the summer of the large municipality of Waldkraiburg — a town founded after World War II on the site of a former ammunition factory by expellees from the Sudetenland, and which today, with over 25,000 inhabitants, is one of the largest towns in the Mühldorf am Inn district.

Festival Tent, Beer Service, and Brotzeit

The centerpiece is the festival tent on the Waldkraiburg festival grounds — the same location for decades at every Volksfest, with the same fortress-like atmosphere. The beer service is traditionally handled by a rotating Upper Bavarian festival host, supplied by a regional brewery. Half chickens, pork roast, grilled fish on a stick (Steckerlfisch), Brotzeit, and sweets characterize the menu — typical Bavarian Volksfest cuisine.

Showmen's Attractions and Amusement Park

Around the festival tent, the showmen's attractions set up a comprehensive Volksfest ensemble: Ferris wheel, dodgems, carousels, swing rides, roller coaster, shooting galleries, gingerbread heart stalls, candy, and crêpe stands. This makes the Waldkraiburger Volksfest a typical family outing — with children's programs, discounted family days, and an amusement park open throughout the festival.

Program Structure over 11 Days

The program follows the proven Upper Bavarian Volksfest structure: Opening weekend with the ceremonial tapping of the first beer keg (Bieranstich) by the incumbent mayor, a concert by brass bands (Standkonzert), and a festive opening; Family days with reduced ride prices mid-week; Festival tent band performances every evening; Special events such as the Traditional Costume Day (Tag der Trachten), the club night (Vereinsabend), the ladies' or gentlemen's night, and a grand fireworks display to conclude the second festival weekend. The exact daily program will be published on the website and in the local press before the festival begins.

Waldkraiburg — A Town with a Young, Diverse History

Waldkraiburg is a unique case in the Upper Bavarian urban landscape: founded in 1950 as a town for expellees, it is one of the youngest towns in Bavaria. Today, it is an industrial and cultural center in the Mühldorf am Inn district — with a House of Culture, a public library, a town museum, and an active club scene. For decades, the Volksfest has been the largest municipal summer festival and an identity-forming event for a town community with Sudeten German, Upper Bavarian, and new resident roots.

Volksfest as a Mirror of Upper Bavarian Festival Culture

The Waldkraiburger Volksfest follows the tradition of medium-sized Upper Bavarian Volksfeste — neither as large as Munich's Oktoberfest or the Gäubodenvolksfest in Straubing, nor a purely village festival. With over 50,000 visitors annually, it has a regional impact, attracting guests from the Mühldorf am Inn district, Altötting, Rosenheim, and Erding.