A long tradition

With over 200 years of history, the folk festival has a long tradition.

This tradition is cherished.

 

Folk festival parade

The annual folk festival parade on the first Sunday of the festival is a spectacle for the whole family.

Colorful traditional costume groups and marching bands, old craft guilds, historical militias, and various groups from all over the country march four kilometers from the Cannstatter Kursaal through the decorated streets of Stuttgart's Bad Cannstatt district to the Wasen.

The parade is watched by 250.000 spectators on the roadside and around half a million people in front of the television.

The parade is organized by the Cannstatter Volksfestverein. The association was founded in 1994 to preserve the traditions of the Cannstatter Volksfest and has around 560 members.

Fruit column

Since the folk festival began over 200 years ago, the fruit column has adorned the Cannstatter Wasen and served as a reminder of the origins of the harvest festival. It is erected and decorated every year about two months before the folk festival.

When the folk festival was founded in 1818, the column, donated by King Wilhelm I and designed and built by the then Württemberg court architect Nikolaus Friedrich von Thouret, served primarily as a podium for bands or as the start and finish area for horse races. Over the years, the appearance of the column has changed repeatedly. The current model was created in 1972 and its layout is based on the historical model.

The column has since become an important and popular meeting place for many visitors to the folk festival. The base also houses the information pavilion, where you can purchase great Wasen souvenirs.

Grocer's market

The Grocer’s market has always been part of the Cannstatter Volksfest. Around 30 traders offer textiles, leather goods, household goods, jewelry, art, tea, spices, cosmetics, and gift items in the area around the König-Karls-bridge. Away from the hustle and bustle of the Volksfest, you can stroll and shop to your heart's content in a relaxed atmosphere.

You can find the latest information under the following link:

Facebook page of the Stuttgart Region showmen and market traders