Festival Grounds at Hagen | Gäuboden Volksfest & East Bavarian Exhibition

The Festival Grounds at Hagen in Straubing is one of the most significant venues in Lower Bavaria. Here, folk festival traditions meet the modern exhibition world every year: the Straubing Gäuboden Volksfest, Bavaria's second-largest folk festival, and the East Bavarian Exhibition, one of Germany's most visited consumer exhibitions, take place side by side on the same grounds. The area is centrally located at Hagen, not far from the city center and right next to the exhibition halls, including the Joseph von Fraunhofer Hall, allowing for short distances between the festival, the exhibition, and city strolls. Visitors benefit from good accessibility via the A3, A92, B20, and B8, as well as local bus services and seasonal shuttle offers. During the folk festival, festival tents, rides, music, and culinary delights shape the scene, while the East Bavarian Exhibition simultaneously showcases halls, outdoor areas, and hundreds of exhibitors. The result is a unique combination of Bavarian joie de vivre, shopping diversity, and regional innovation, making the Festival Grounds at Hagen the vibrant heart of Straubing.

East Bavarian Exhibition at the Festival Grounds at Hagen: Dates, Admission, Exhibition Area

The East Bavarian Exhibition takes place at the Festival Grounds at Hagen, right next to the Gäuboden Volksfest, and is a major attraction for visitors. For 2025, the city of Straubing has announced the exhibition days from August 9 to 17. Characteristically, admission is free, making the exhibition an accessible experience for families, day visitors, and professionals. According to city information, the exhibition area covers around 60,000 square meters of exhibition space, with more than 17,000 square meters of hall space. A total of sixteen halls, including the Joseph von Fraunhofer Hall and the exhibition hall, are included, complemented by spacious outdoor areas with relaxation zones. Thematically, exhibitors cover a vast range, from construction and living to gardening, energy, and regional food, as well as mobility, leisure, enjoyment, and crafts. In the exhibition operation, the organizers involve local and regional providers; in typical years, 600 to around 650 exhibitors come to Straubing. The proximity to the folk festival creates a special atmosphere: many visitors combine their exhibition visit with a break in the beer garden or a detour to the rides, while, conversely, folk festival guests take advantage of free access to the East Bavarian Exhibition for targeted product research and consultations. Exhibitors appreciate the central location and traffic management, which is deliberately focused on the high visitor traffic during the exhibition days. Those planning their visit should note that the exhibition grounds are continuously organized as an event area during setup and dismantling phases, and the regular large parking lot will not be available. A tip: Check the opening hours of the halls and access to the individual thematic areas in advance so you can efficiently experience the density of offerings. Thanks to the hall structure, the East Bavarian Exhibition is also well-visited in changeable weather, while the outdoor area offers additional presentation spaces for agricultural machinery, outdoor ideas, and culinary stands.

Gäuboden Volksfest at the Festival Grounds at Hagen: Program, Tents, Seating

The Gäuboden Volksfest transforms the Festival Grounds at Hagen every August into a multi-voiced folk festival area. Its historical roots date back to 1812 when King Maximilian I. Joseph granted the Straubingers an agricultural festival in the Lower Danube district. From this tradition, a modern folk festival developed, which the city refers to as the absolute highlight of the annual calendar. The key figures are impressive: seven large festival tents offer around 27,500 seats, along with about 130 attractions ranging from the historical area with nostalgic carousels to spectacular thrill rides. The festival is accompanied by a supporting program with around 60 cultural and sporting events. The traditional opening is the ceremonial parade on the first Friday in August from the city center to the festival grounds, where music bands, traditional costume groups, and decorated carriages fill the city with festive spirit. In the tent operation, brass music, regional cuisine, and sociable table culture come together. Since the festival grounds are an open area, there is no unified seating plan; seats are distributed across the individual festival tents. This structure makes it easy to switch between tents, depending on the music program, mood, and culinary preferences. Visitors benefit from the close proximity of the folk festival and the exhibition: a visit can start in the morning with a tour of the exhibition, pause in the beer gardens or in the shade of the halls at noon, and end in the tents in the evening. During particularly busy times, early arrival or flexible day planning is recommended to minimize waiting times at rides and entry situations in the tents. The city estimates the visitor count in typical years at around 1.3 million guests from Bavaria, Germany, and neighboring countries. This scale explains the carefully coordinated traffic and safety concepts on-site. A special experience is the historical area of the folk festival, which makes old crafts, classic rides, and regional music culture tangible, thereby keeping the roots of the festival visible. Those who want to target music or theme days should consult the official program calendar; guided tours of the festival grounds are offered on selected days and provide insights into history, special features, and the logistics behind the scenes.

Access and Parking at the Festival Grounds at Hagen Straubing

The Festival Grounds at Hagen are very well accessible via several traffic routes. From the north, the A3 leads to Straubing via the Kirchroth exit; from there, it goes through the West Bypass with the Danube Bridge into the city area. From the south, access is via the A92 Straubing exit and then via B20 and B8. Within the city, event signage with indications for the exhibition, large parking lot at Hagen, or bus station at Hagen helps with orientation. For navigation purposes, the destination Am Hagen, 94315 Straubing is suitable. In addition to individual traffic, public transport plays an important role: during the Gäuboden Volksfest, the city bus increases its frequency and introduces a special folk festival ticket; additional stops directly at the festival grounds facilitate arrival and departure. In practice, it is advisable to check the current information from the Stadtwerke Straubing, as times and routes are adjusted annually. Parking: The large parking lot at Hagen serves as a central parking area near the city center outside of the festival period. However, it will be completely closed in advance of the setup for the folk festival and East Bavarian Exhibition so that festival tents, rides, and halls can be erected on the grounds. For 2025, the closure has been communicated from June 30 to about September 1. During this phase, the West Bypass parking lot with around 1,000 spaces is available as an alternative; it is connected to the city center by shuttle bus and can be reached on foot in about fifteen minutes. After the dismantling work is completed, the large parking lot will be reopened; in the past, local press reported several thousand free parking spaces when no events were taking place. Those arriving by car on event days should use the city's parking guidance system, pay attention to rerouting, and allow enough time. An additional advantage: In Straubing, many parking areas can be paid for via an app, simplifying ticket purchases. In general, the city recommends arriving by train and bus during high visitor volumes; regional trains reach Straubing station from outside, and bus connections lead to the area at Hagen. For people with limited mobility, accessible parking spaces and sanitary facilities are designated at alternative parking lots; the exact locations are announced for each event date.

Photos and Impressions from the Festival Grounds at Hagen: What to Expect

Those who want to get a picture of the Festival Grounds at Hagen in advance will find plenty of visual material in the official image galleries of the city and the organizers, as well as in media archives. Typical motifs include the seven large festival tents with their characteristic facades and serving areas, the multitude of rides in the historical and modern areas, the colorful lighting at night, and impressions from the East Bavarian Exhibition with densely packed halls and prominent thematic islands in the outdoor area. Aerial shots show the proximity to the city center and the compactness of the folk festival and exhibition area, explaining the short distances in the visitor's daily life. Particularly popular are images of the historical area, where traditional costume groups perform and old crafts are demonstrated, as well as pictures from the traditional parade on the first Friday when music bands, festival floats, and horse-drawn carriages fill the streets. The East Bavarian Exhibition also provides visually striking scenes: product demonstrations, consultations at stands, garden and construction themes in outdoor areas, regional specialties, and relaxation zones for resting. For photography enthusiasts, the late afternoon until dusk offers ideal conditions, as the colorful lights of the rides harmonize with the remaining light of the sky. Legal notes: The usual rules for photographing in public apply on the grounds; for close-up portraits of people, restraint is advisable for reasons of personal rights, and consent is recommended in case of doubt. Media and image portals publish freely licensed images from the festival that can be used in accordance with the respective licensing conditions. Those who want to specifically inform themselves about current highlights can check the program calendar in advance; there, special rides or show acts are often recognizable. Local media photo reports that accompany the setup, opening days, and special program points of each edition also provide good orientation. In summary, an authentic impression emerges: The Festival Grounds at Hagen are family-friendly, clear during the day, and very informative due to the East Bavarian Exhibition, while in the evening, they take on a atmospheric, sometimes spectacular character through lighting and music.

Motorhome and Overnight Stays at the Festival Grounds at Hagen

Travelers with motorhomes will find simple parking options directly at the Festival Grounds at Hagen. Directories list around 10 parking spaces, usually designed for a maximum of one night and without complete supply and disposal infrastructure. The location is an advantage: it is only a few minutes' walk to the city center, making it easy to combine a city stroll with an overnight stay. It should be noted that parking at the large parking lot is not permitted during the setup and event phase of the Gäuboden Volksfest and East Bavarian Exhibition, and parts of the grounds are generally closed to vehicles. During these weeks, it is advisable to use official alternatives in the city area; the city provides current information on this and refers to park-and-ride and shuttle solutions. For quiet nights, it is recommended to arrive outside of festival days or specifically seek areas designated by the city as parking spaces. Safety and order instructions from the authorities should be observed, especially regarding fire extinguisher readiness, distance rules, and the prohibition of open flames in parking areas. Equipment level: The parking spaces at the festival grounds are classic parking lot surfaces without comfort such as power columns, supply and disposal, or sanitary buildings; accordingly, self-sufficient capacities should be on board. Alternatively, there are camping and parking spaces in the surrounding area with higher comfort if longer stays are planned. A practical tip is to arrive early in the day to secure a suitable spot; while frequency often decreases in the evening, it can also be livelier at night during festival days. Those who wish to visit the East Bavarian Exhibition the following day will benefit from the short distances: access to halls and outdoor areas is in close proximity, allowing for a visit to the exhibition without searching for parking. Overall, the parking options at Hagen are a good, simple option for a short stop to get to know Straubing and the events at the festival grounds.

Sources:

• City of Straubing - Gäuboden Volksfest and East Bavarian Exhibition
• Straubing Exhibition and Event GmbH - Access East Bavarian Exhibition
• Access and Parking - Joseph von Fraunhofer Hall and Large Parking Lot at Hagen
• idowa - Large Parking Lot at Hagen Closure and Alternative West Bypass (16.06.2025)
• regio-aktuell24 - Closure Large Parking Lot and Shuttle West Bypass (18.06.2025)
• Wikipedia - Gäuboden Volksfest Overview and Seating
• promobil - Parking Space Festival Grounds at Hagen, Data and Information
• vibus - Guided Tour Gäuboden Volksfest, Dates 2025