Gäubodenvolksfest

The Gäubodenvolksfest in Straubing is one of the largest Volksfest (beer festival and travelling funfair) in Bavaria.

The Gäubodenvolksfest was founded by Maximilian I Joseph, King of Bavaria in the year 1812 as an agricultural festival to organize an annual meeting of the people in the Danube region.

The Gäubodenvolksfest is a modern and family-friendly festival with about 120 carousels, roller coasters and six big beer tents with 25,000 seats at an area of about 90,000 m²., but it has upheld its traditional character. Many of the approximately 1.2 million visitors wear Bavarian costume ("Trachten").

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. 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" and a parade with 2,000 participants in native attire on foot, on 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.

Brewery:, Röhrl Straubing

Brewery: Irlbacher, Irlbach

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Wikipedia