Wallenstein Festival (Altdorf near Nuremberg)

Opening of the Wallenstein Festival on June 27, 2009, at the microphone patron Joachim Herrmann .

The Wallenstein Festival Altdorf is an event that has been taking place every three years in Altdorf near Nuremberg since 1894 .

The festival takes place on five weekends in summer. There is a lively medieval hustle and bustle on the market square with numerous stalls and a colorful supporting program. The highlight is the pageant, in which all performers march through the city.

In the courtyard of the former University of Altdorf , the folk play Wallenstein in Altdorf and the drama Wallenstein by Friedrich Schiller are performed by numerous amateur actors under the guidance of professional directors on the festival weekends .

history

The history of the festival began in 1894 when the folk play Wallenstein was performed for the first time in Altdorf on August 12th . This is about Wallenstein , who had studied for a short time at the University of Altdorf in 1599, where he had attracted attention, among other things because he had almost killed his servant in a fit of anger. As early as 1894 there was a field camp, a guard elevator and a pageant.

Other festivals took place in 1895, 1899, 1906, 1909, 1912, 1925, 1933, 1936 and 1939. From 1912 the organization was taken over by the "Festival Committee". This became an association in 1925, which was dissolved again in 1936 because no suitable board was found.

After the Second World War, the tradition was continued in 1950. This was followed by festivals in 1952, 1955 and 1958, which were organized by the Heimat- und Verkehrsverein. The Games have been held every three years since 1955.

On March 24, 1959, the "Wallenstein Festival Association" was founded by 93 people in order to be able to gather all those involved under the umbrella of one organization. The income from membership fees, which amounted to around DM 2,000, was supposed to secure the festival financially - today the turnover for one season is around € 300,000. From 1961 the association began to make and collect costumes itself. In 1966 it was possible for the first time to create these completely by oneself; today there are around 1,000 costumes. Camp life, which today fills almost the entire old town, originally only took place on Schlossplatz and was only used for self-sufficiency. In 1973, the drama Wallenstein by Friedrich Schiller was started in addition to the folk play . In 1976 the historic craftsman's farm was built for the first time. It is carried out by the Altdorf Craftsmen and Journeyman Association.

Today the Festival Association has around 600 members, but almost 1,000 people are involved. The Altdorf performers are also supported by marching bands and groups from other cities, which change weekly.

As in 2009 and 2012, the 2015 festival lasted five weeks. As before, camp life took place on all Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and also on all Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. As every time, a "Long Night" was celebrated. The night life in the camp was complemented by guest groups such as jugglers, fire-eaters and music groups. During the "Long Night", camp life does not end until 3:00 am.

On Saturdays (as well as on Friday, July 24th, 2015) the classic " Wallenstein " by Friedrich Schiller was played at 8:30 pm . On Sundays at 1:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. the folk play " Wallenstein in Altdorf " by Franz Dittmar could be seen.

In 2018 the Wallenstein Festival took place from June 22nd to July 22nd with an extensive supporting program.

Because of the corona pandemic, the festivals scheduled for 2021 have been postponed by one year to 2022 and are to take place from June 25 to July 31.

groups

Croatian camp of the Wallenstein Festival 2009

group	involved since	image
Vigilante	1997
Field hospital	1997
Craftsman
Holk's Horde	2009
Cossacks	1997
Croatians	1981 (foundation)
Landsknechte Hubertus
Landsknechte toe	1982
Musketeers	Early 1980s
equestrian
Sweden	2009
Senators
Singing farmers
students
people
Wild mercenaries	1967
Gypsies	1970