title: Gäubodenvolksfest
text: The Gäubodenvolksfest in Straubing is one of the largest Volksfests (beer festival and travelling funfair) in the German state of Bavaria. It is an annual event, spanning eleven days mid-August.
  
  History 
  The Gäubodenvolksfest was founded in the year 1812 by Maximilian I Joseph, King of Bavaria, as an agricultural festival to foster an annual gathering of the people in the Danube region.
  
  The festival went on hiatus in 1915-18, 1940-45 & 2020-21.
  
  Description 
  The Gäubodenvolksfest is a modern and family-friendly festival with several attractions, including carousels and roller coasters. There are also several large beer tents that span a 100,000 m2 area. The event has maintained the historic character of Bavarian festivals, and attracts approximately 1.4 million visitors every year. Many visitors wear traditional Bavarian clothing (Tracht) for the occasion.
  
  The festival combines Bavarian tradition with progress and vitality. It is one of Bavaria's oldest and most popular festivals and it has increased to one of the biggest events in Germany. Beer plays a central role in the fair. The beer is specially brewed, and only breweries from Straubing or the district Straubing-Bogen are allowed to serve beer there.
  
  On the first day of the festival there is a "Bierprobe", which means "beer tasting," followed by a parade consisting of people wearing Bavarian native attire walking on foot, riding horses, or in horse carriages.
  
  On the second day there is the official opening with a representative of the Bavarian or German government.
  
  The festival is held every year in the middle of August and lasts 11 days. The festival is celebrated by the whole city as a "fifth season", and many companies are closed down during this time.
  
  Combined with the Gäubodenvolksfest is the Ostbayernschau, the biggest trade show of eastern Bavaria.
  
  Statistics (2017)
   Number of visitors: 1.35 million
   Beer: 730,000 litre
   Breweries: 7 with 26,400 seats
   Length: 2,500 metres
   Price of a one-liter mug of beer (Maß): €9,15
  
  Main Attractions/Festival Events 
   Olympia Looping (appears once every two or three years)
   Star World (appears once every two or three years)
   Wilde Maus
   Feuer und Eis (Fire and Ice)
   Free fall tower
   Chairoplane
   Bumper cars
   Transformer
   Bavarian Big Wheel
   Whitewater channel
   Horse riding
   Children and family friendly carousels
   Revues and shows
   Bavarian and international food and beverages
   A parade with Bavarian and international folklore and beer carriages
   A romantic parade with boats, swimmers, and torches on the Danube
   A boxing match and other sport events
   Two fireworks displays
   The beer tents with Bavarian folk music and mood music
  
  Dates of Previous/ Upcoming Events 
   2020: 7 to 17 August (not held, COVID-19 pandemic)
   2021: 13 to 23 August (not held)
   2022: 12 to 22 August
   2023: 11 to 21 August
   2024: 9 to 19 August
  
  Beer tents 
  Weckmann
  Brewery:, Röhrl Straubing
  
  Krönner
  Brewery: Irlbacher, Irlbach
  
  Lechner
  Brewery: Irlbacher, Irlbach
  
  Nothaft
  Brewery: Karmeliten, Straubing
  
  Reisinger
  Brewery: Arcobräu, Moos
  
  Wenisch
  Brewery: Erl-Bräu, Geiselhöring
  
  Greindl
  Brewery: Karmeliten, Straubing
  
  References
  
  External links 
  
   Official Website of the Gäubodenvolksfest
   Information in English about Gäubodenvolksfest
   A lot of pictures about the people, the fun, the beer tents, the nice atmosphere, the ostbayernschau-fair, the rides and so on ... 
   gäubodenvolksfest.de
   Photos Gäubodenvolksfest
   Lechners Schmankerlzelt
   Wenisch
   Reisinger
   Krönner
   Ochsenbraterei Beck 
   Nothaft
   Röhrlbräu
  
  Beer festivals in Germany
  Culture of Altbayern
  Tourist attractions in Bavaria
  1812 establishments in Bavaria
  Annual events in Germany
  Festivals established in 1812
  Straubing