he Region’s Largest & Oldest German Festival, Volksfest Returns to the Cannstatter for Its 154th Year
he Region’s Largest & Oldest German Festival, Volksfest Returns to the Cannstatter for Its 154th Year
The Cannstatter Volksfest-Verein will host its 154th annual Labor Day Weekend Volksfest at the Cannstatter, located at 9130 Academy Road. Organizers describe it as the Philly region’s largest and the nation’s oldest German festival. The event is open to the public and has been held annually since 1873.
Free parking is available at the Cannstatter and in the school yard across the street. A full event schedule is available online.
The festival will offer a range of German and American beers and wines, along with a mix of traditional German dishes, including bratwurst, leberkäse, schnitzel, maultaschen and kassler rippchen. American staples such as hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, grilled chicken, potato pancakes, beer nuts and cotton candy will also be available.
Live German and American party music will be provided by Philadelphia-based band Heimatklänge, joined by The Adlers from New York. The festival will also feature traditional folk-dance performances by the award-winning GTV Almrausch. The event includes rides and activities intended for children and families.
A variety of vendors will offer locally sourced and imported German crafts, traditional costume clothing, and gifts throughout the festival.
A longstanding festival tradition, the Cannstatter’s three-story “fruit column,” will once again be decorated with real fruits and vegetables. The column, which organizers say takes more than a week to build with the help of volunteers, is intended to celebrate heritage and the year’s harvest.
Event Hours and Admission
- Saturday, September 5: 12–10 p.m., $10 admission
- Sunday, September 6: 12–10 p.m., $15 admission
- Monday, September 7: 12–8 p.m., $10 admission
