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Wallenstein Festival starts: Altdorf in a historic celebration frenzy!
The Wallenstein Festival, a historical event with costumes and performances, begins in Altdorf on Friday.
Wallenstein Festival starts: Altdorf in a historic celebration frenzy!
In Altdorf near Nuremberg, the final preparations are currently underway for this year's Wallenstein Festival, which begins on Friday. The traditional event is a highlight for the region and attracts visitors from near and far. Passers-by in the city center can already admire mountain bikers in historical costumes as well as people with swords and feathered hats, reminiscent of the time of the 30 Years' War.
The Wallenstein Festival has a long history, which began in 1894 with the performance of the folk play “Wallenstein”. From then on, the festival became an integral part of the cultural landscape for many years, as Wikipedia) reports. The first performance took place on August 12, 1894. Numerous events followed in the following years, interrupted only by the First and Second World Wars, with the festival being revived in 1950.
A celebration of traditions
The Wallenstein Festival has taken place every three years since 1955, and the event has continued to develop over the decades. The historic craftsman's farm was first built in 1976 and offers visitors insights into past craft traditions. Camp life, which began in 1970, has also been increasingly integrated into the festival and contributes to the contemporary portrayal of the 30 Years' War.
The “Wallenstein Festival Association”, founded on March 24, 1959, took over the organization and today consists of around 600 members. With almost 1,000 actors involved, they create the performances and the pageant with great passion. The income from membership fees was initially around 2,000 DM and is now around 300,000 euros per season.
Performance times and program
From 1973, Schiller's drama “Wallenstein” was also performed alongside the folk play. Performances take place on Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Since 2009, the festival has spanned five weekends, during which spectators can immerse themselves in the world of Wallenstein. The main rehearsal of the current folk play “Wallenstein in Altdorf” took place on Saturday.
In recent years, the festival had to be postponed due to pandemic-related restrictions; However, the next performances are planned for June to July 2025. The festival association has always strived to ensure high quality performances and was awarded the Foundation Prize in 2018.
The initiatives that go beyond the entire festival concept are also particularly popular. Marching bands and groups from other cities support the Altdorf performers, combining the celebrations with a sense of community.
The Wallenstein Festival is not only a cultural heritage, but also a living part of Altdorf's identity, which is passed on from generation to generation through commitment and creativity. The anticipation of the festive season can already be felt in Altdorf.