Cannstatter Volksfest attracts 4.2 million thirsty visitors
Over the last 17 days a total of 4.2 million thirsty visitors attended the 178th Stuttgart Beer Festival, locally known as the Cannstatter Volkfest.
On German Unity Day, held every 3rd October to celebrate the country’s re-unification in 1990, the festival grounds reached maximum capacity with 73,000 people attending. The Wasen, as the grounds are known, was closed for several hours to new visitors as a result.
Since the Stuttgart Veranstaltungsgesellschaft (Stuttgart Event Organisation) has taken over the management of the festival, it has seen continuous growth and become the crown jewel of the region. Today it is the world’s 2nd largest folk festival after the Munich Oktoberfest. The all-time high in attendance was in 2024, with 4.6 million visitors.
The 25-hectar festival grounds, known as the Wasen, host several other major festivals throughout the year incl. the Stuttgart Frühlingfest. Some fascinating trivia: in the early days of commercial aviation, the site also served as an airfield and a landing site for zeppelins.
Amusement rides, children’s rides, booths, market stalls, and a diverse range of food and drink options – including eight beer tents, the “Albdorf” (Swabian Alb village), countless beer gardens, snack bars, and confectionery stalls – ensure a varied selection of attractions. In total about 300 local businesses are at the festival.
The festival has significant economic benefits for the city, with approximately 17,000 people directly or indirectly employed by the Cannstatter Volksfest every year.
