Rutenfest Ravensburg
- 23 July 2027 – 27 July 2027
- Ravensburg, Baden-Württemberg
Estimated. This date could not be independently verified for this year and may change - check the official source before relying on it.
Oberschwaben's traditional children's and heritage festival. This date is an estimate based on the usual pattern of previous years; the organiser has not announced it officially yet. In 2026 it ran from Friday to Tuesday in the second half of July.
Source: https://www.ravensburg.de · Checked 2026-10-08
What the Rutenfest is
The Rutenfest is the traditional children's and heritage festival of Ravensburg, the old imperial city in Upper Swabia not far from Lake Constance. It is one of the best known local festivals of the region and a fixed point in the calendar for families who grew up in or around the town. The programme mixes processions, historic costumes, school and children's events and the usual fairground life that surrounds a German town festival.
For a visitor from outside the region it is a good chance to see a local tradition that is still lived by residents rather than staged for tourists. Expect a town that is busy, cheerful and a little bit proud of its customs, with plenty of people in festive clothes and a lot of conversation in the Swabian dialect.
Dates for 2027 and how they are set
The 2027 edition is currently listed as Friday 23 July to Tuesday 27 July 2027. Please treat this as an estimate. The date was derived from the pattern of earlier years, and the organiser has not yet published an official announcement. In 2026 the festival ran from a Friday to a Tuesday in the second half of July, and the estimate simply continues that rhythm.
Because of this, do not book non-refundable travel or accommodation on the strength of these dates alone. Check the official website of the city of Ravensburg and the festival organisers in the months before the festival. If the real dates shift by a week, your plan needs to shift with them, and the best moment to commit is once the programme is public.
Character and background
The Rutenfest belongs to the family of Heimatfeste in southern Germany, festivals that celebrate a place, its history and above all its children. Its name refers to the rods, the Ruten, which are part of the local tradition. The festival has been celebrated over many generations, and for many residents it is as much a family reunion as a public event.
Ravensburg itself is a well preserved medieval town with towers, gates and half-timbered houses, and the festival makes use of that setting. The old town is compact, so most things are within walking distance, which suits a festival where streets are partly closed and the atmosphere moves from square to square.
What to see, do and eat
Plan to spend time in the old town, where processions and events concentrate. Between programme points, climb the Mehlsack, the round tower on the hill above the centre, for a view over the town and towards the Alps on a clear day. The Veitsburg and the narrow lanes below it are also worth a slow walk. If you travel with children, the Ravensburger museum in the town is a natural companion to a festival visit.
Regional food is easy to find in the area: Maultaschen, Spätzle, Kässpätzle with fried onions, sausages from the grill and, nearer the lake, fish. In summer, a cool glass of Most or a regional beer on a terrace fits the festival mood perfectly.
Getting there and where to stay
Ravensburg lies on the Südbahn between Ulm and Friedrichshafen, so regional trains connect it with both. Friedrichshafen, with its small airport and lake ferries, is the closest larger hub. By car, the town is reached along the B30 federal road, but parking close to the centre will be tight on festival days, so a park-and-walk plan is sensible.
Rooms in Ravensburg and in the neighbouring lake towns fill up quickly in July, which is high season for the Lake Constance area. Once the dates are confirmed, book early, or consider staying in Friedrichshafen, Weingarten or Wangen and commuting by train.
Planning around public holidays
In 2027 the estimated run begins on a Friday and ends on a Tuesday. A visit covering the whole stretch would use two vacation days, Monday 26 July and Tuesday 27 July, since the Friday can often be handled with a half day or an early start. There is no public holiday in Baden-Württemberg between Corpus Christi on 27 May and German Unity Day, so there is no bridge day to exploit. Summer school holidays in the state usually start in late July, so check the official school calendar, because that decides how busy trains and roads will be.
This festival suits families, locals, and travellers combining a Lake Constance holiday with a cultural stop. Come with comfortable shoes, bring cash for small stalls, and look at the organiser's site before you leave to confirm every date.
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Written and maintained by Basaveswara Rao. Last reviewed on October 10, 2026.