Göppingen - Maientag

The Göppingen May Day is one of the oldest and most traditional local festivals in southern Germany and has been combining tradition and modernity for over 350 years.

The original peace and thanksgiving festival was held for the first time in 1650 on 11 August to celebrate the end of the Thirty Years' War. To this day, May Day remains one of the highlights of the Hohenstaufen town's festivities and has maintained its historical origins over the years. Its traditional centrepiece is the parade on Saturday morning, which takes place after the start of the ‘Maientagsansingen’ on Friday evening. Göppingen's schools and clubs shed light on current events in the town from their perspective. Many a deficit, be it in schools or in local politics, is made fun of.

This is followed by the historical procession, in which the history of the Fils Valley and the Hohenstaufen town of Göppingen is told in impressive pictures - from the Alamanian settlement founder Geppo and Barbarossa to the devastating town fire, the building of the castle and industrialisation. The presentation is accompanied by music from around 20 bands from the region. Afterwards, the town continues to celebrate on the festival grounds in front of the EWS Arena until Monday evening with the latest rides, sweets or even a beer and a ‘Göckele’ in the marquee. The traditional finale is the impressive fireworks display on Monday after dark.

Göppingen May Day song

1. go out, my heart, and seek joy / in this dear summer time / in your God's gifts; / look at the beautiful gardens / and see how they have adorned themselves / for me and for you.

(2) The trees are full of foliage, / the earth covers its dust / with a green garment; / daffodils and the tulipan, / they dress themselves more beautifully / than Solomon's silk.

(3) I myself cannot and may not rest, / the great work of the great God / awakens all my senses; / I sing along when everything sings / and let what sounds to the Most High / flow from my heart.

Source: City of Göppingen

Travel information:

By public transport:

- by train - Göppingen railway station (distance 1.4 km)

- by bus - bus stop Schillerstraße

By car:

- Venue: around the EWS Arena (Nördliche Ringstraße 87)

Parking facilities:

- no information available