Zeilitzheim Market Square Wine Festival

Wine Festival with Village Character

The Market Square Wine Festival in Zeilitzheim is a true Franconian village wine festival. Not a large tourist event, but a grown, intergenerational festival of the village and its vintners. The market square is festively illuminated, the wine stands serve Franconian wine, the local clubs provide snacks, delicacies, and cakes, and from the late afternoon onwards, Franconian dance and party music is played.

Zeilitzheim in Steigerwald

Zeilitzheim is a district of the municipality of Kolitzheim in the Schweinfurt district, on the edge of the Steigerwald. The Steigerwald is one of the three major Franconian wine-growing regions (alongside Maindreieck and Mainviereck) and primarily produces Silvaner, Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus, and Riesling. The Zeilitzheim vintners have been cultivating their vineyards for generations, and several wineries have gained a supra-regional reputation – the wine festival is the ideal opportunity to taste their summer wines directly at their origin.

What You Can Experience

• Wine: Summer wines from Zeilitzheim vintners, Federweißer (often not yet available in August), dry Silvaner, fruity Bacchus, wines by the glass directly from the barrel
• Food: Franconian snacks (Brotzeit), roast pork shoulder (Schäufele), sausage salad, potato salad, snack platters, cake stand by the women's associations
• Music: Franconian brass music, party music, sometimes a live band
• Atmosphere: Festively illuminated market square, cozy, village-like, intergenerational
• Ecumenical Service: on Sunday morning as part of the festival weekend

Steigerwald — Franconian Wine Country with World Heritage Site

The Steigerwald is located in northeastern Lower Franconia, with wine villages such as Zeilitzheim, Iphofen, Castell, Wiesentheid, or Abtswind. The hilly landscape with beech forests (candidate for UNESCO World Natural Heritage), small villages, monasteries (Münsterschwarzach), and many wineries is one of the quietest wine regions in Germany. Those who visit the Market Square Wine Festival should take time for a walk through the surrounding vineyards – the 'Würzberg' and 'Mönchsberg' sites are particularly recommended.

Date and Tradition

The Market Square Wine Festival traditionally takes place on the third weekend of August. In 2026, this falls on Saturday, August 22nd. Free admission, food and drinks paid for at the stands. One of the most beautiful ways to end a warm summer evening in Franconia.