Wildberg Schäferlauf

Tradition since 1723

The Wildberg Schäferlauf is one of Württemberg's oldest traditional festivals. First documented in 1723, the custom dates back to the medieval tradition of the Schäferzunft (Shepherds' Guild), which was an independent professional group with its own guild rights in Württemberg. Wildberg, a small town in the Calw district on the edge of the Northern Black Forest, was one of Württemberg's most important sheep farming centers. The festival was granted intangible UNESCO Cultural Heritage status in 2018 — an accolade that elevates the annual spectacle beyond a regional showcase.

Four Days of Events

The 2026 program runs from Friday, July 17, to Monday, July 20, at the Schäferlaufplatz and the Klosterhof festival meadow. Friday evening opens with a festival parade, music, and catering. Saturday features the historical play “Der Klosterschäfer und der Teufelspuppenspieler” (The Monastery Shepherd and the Devil's Puppeteer) — a piece created generations ago that contrasts the medieval folk piety of the shepherds with diabolical temptations. It is performed in original costumes with local actors — a unique blend of drama and tradition.

The Barefoot Schäferlauf on Sunday

Sunday's highlight is the grand parade with 80 festival groups — historically costumed guilds, shepherd's assistants, brass bands, traditional costume groups, and sheepdog collectives. The actual Schäferlauf race follows: shepherds and shepherdesses run barefoot across stubble fields for a crown, worn by the winner as the Shepherd King or Queen of the year. Running on stubble is symbolic and physically demanding — a traditional element that concretizes the connection between shepherd and land.

Farmers' Market, Sheepdog Demonstrations, and Fireworks

Accompanying program: Demonstrations by shepherds with their dogs (sheep herding through the town), a farmers' market on Monday with artisans and regional producers, music and traditional costume groups from the Black Forest, and show cooking demonstrations of Swabian cuisine. The final evening concludes with a large fireworks display over the festival meadow — the closing act of a festival that firmly inscribes Wildberg into the Swabian traditional calendar every year.