The 53rd “Heidelberger Herbst” Old Town Festival

Two days long from 28 & 29 September 2024

In the heart of Heidelberg’s Old Town on the last weekend in September, a varied program of festivities delights visitors. The artisans’ and goods market along the main street, the popular flea market in the small alleys of the Old Town and on the banks of the Neckar River, as well as stalls with regional specialties invite more than 200 000 visitors every year to stroll and sample. Musical entertainment of various kinds is guaranteed thanks to serveral stages transforming the Old Town into one big open-air concert.

The official start of the 53rd Heidelberg Autumn by Lord Mayor Eckart Würzner traditionally takes place with the tapping of the keg beer at 11 a.m. on the market square. Guests can expect a colorful music and entertainment program on eleven stages throughout Heidelberg’s Old Town, plenty of culinary delights and great ideas at the arts and crafts, goods and flea market. The “Autumn Sunday” in combination with the Shopping Sunday offers lots of action and shopping fun, especially for families.

Markets and cultural program

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Traditionally set up flea market stalls along the main street, in the side alleyways and on the Old Bridge, art and goods traders will be inviting visitors to discover one or two treasures while rummaging around. Great live acts on numerous stages provide musical entertainment and an exuberant atmosphere well into the night.

The well-known Heidelberg Autumn Flea Market in the southern Old Town (Merianstraße and Kettengasse) and in the northern Old Town (Dreikönigstraße, Obere Neckarstraße, Lauerstraße, Neckarstaden and am Brückentor) invites all hunters and (bargain) collectors to browse extensively from 7 am to 7 pm.

The residents’ flea market, which also takes place in Neugasse, Landfriedstrasse, Ingrimstrasse, Mittelbadgasse, Bienenstrasse, Untere Neckarstrasse, Untere Strasse and Große Mantelgasse from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., has proven its worth. In the inner courtyard of the Theodor-Heuss-Schule there will be the popular flea market for children up to the age of 15 from 6.30 am – 6 pm.

The traditional photography flea market at Fotoatelier Lossen can be explored at Plöck 32a (inner courtyard) from 11 am – 6 pm.

A new addition is the accessories flea market at the German-French Cultural Center at Mittelbadgasse 7/corner of Ingrimstraße. There you will find items with the so-called “Cerises sur le gâteau” and thus in that creative style that gives every outfit the right pizzazz.

Along the main street, the arts and crafts and goods market is open from 10 am to 11 pm and offers an attractive setting for a leisurely stroll through Heidelberg’s popular shopping mile.

An additional arts and crafts and museum flea market takes place from 9 – 5 p.m. in the courtyard of the Kurpfälzisches Museum (Hauptstraße 97).

Richard-Hauser-Platz will become a presentation area for Heidelberg’s twin towns from 11 am. The presentation stands of Montpellier, Kumamoto and Rehovot are looking forward to welcoming numerous visitors. The “Marcelle Coulazou” fanfare band from the coastal town of Sète will be performing at around 11.45 am, 2 pm, 4 pm and 6 pm. The seven musicians have integrated the traditional music of Occitania and various dances from the Balkans.

For all those who want to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the Heidelberg Autumn, the Altstadt senior center at Marstallstraße 13 offers a cozy café oasis with homemade cakes, waffles and coffee from 2 – 5 pm. There will also be a small jewelry flea market.

Once again this year, a special stamp will be issued by the Heidelberg Stamp Collectors’ Association especially for “Heidelberger Herbst 2024” and sold from 11 am – 6 pm at Hauptstraße 25 (in front of Galerie Vogel). It shows the oil painting “Blue Hour – Heidelberg” by artist Ute Herrmann from Much in the Bergisches Land region. There will also be a special postmark and a special postcard with the same motif.

On the Nepomuk Terrace, on the northern side of the Old Bridge, Florian Budke, graphic designer from Mannheim, will be exhibiting large-format super graphics from 11 am to 11 pm, in which the combination of architecture, graphic design and typography with regard to public space plays an important role.

For the first time, the “Climate Mile” will be presented on Saturday from 2 – 9.30 pm behind the closed Kaufhof Plöck / Rohrbacher Straße with hands-on activities, an upcycling workshop, readings and a clothes swap party. DJ Goldschatz and “Woman to Man” will provide musical entertainment from 5 pm.

While Pier IV invites you to the Piazza Spritz on Saturday, the “Neckarstrand” offers the opportunity to linger throughout the weekend.

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Traditionally, the “Heidelberg City Eight”, the rowing competition between the two Heidelberg rowing clubs, will be held from 11.30 am. The start and award ceremony will take place on the Neckar meadows in front of the HRK boathouse.

On Richard-Hauser-Platz, the “Fair Festival” presents a colorful program on fair trade from 11 am to 7 pm.

The popular flea market for children up to the age of 15 takes place in the courtyard of the Theodor Heuss School from 11 am – 6 pm.

On the Nepomuk Terrace, on the northern side of the Old Bridge, Florian Budke, graphic designer from Mannheim, will be exhibiting large-format super graphics from 11 am – 7 pm.

ADORABLE Collection presents an ethnoglam boutique fashion show at Heumarkt 11 at 4 pm and 6 pm.

The bookshop Schmitt & Hahn at Hauptstraße 8 presents the Irish folk group “The Green Shamrock” with soulful ballads, drinking and freedom songs from 3 – 4.30 pm.

The “Climate Mile” behind the closed Kaufhof Plöck / Rohrbacher Straße will be represented from 12 – 5 pm with the “Market of Opportunities” and from 3.30 – 5 pm with music by “Balsamico”, before a citizens’ talk concludes the Climate Mile program.

In addition to the many attractions of “Autumn Sunday”, “Shopping Sunday” will also take place. The participating, individual and autumnally decorated stores, especially in the side streets, invite you to stroll, stroll and, of course, shop from 1 – 6 pm. An entertaining mix of experiences with special hands-on activities and attractive offers awaits locals and visitors. Numerous activities for children and a tasty culinary offer will turn Sunday into a family experience. Detailed information on Shopping Sunday can be found in the Pro Heidelberg campaign flyer and at www.proheidelberg.de.

Stage program on the squares

Saturday, September 28, 2024

The official starting signal for the 53rd Heidelberg Autumn by Lord Mayor Eckart Würzner, the Perkeo Fanfare Platoon, “Perkeo” Thomas Barth and the reigning Wine Queen Larissa Leonhard, Larissa II, is traditionally given with the tapping of the keg beer at 11 a.m. on the market square.

Later on, visitors to the market square can look forward to the “SRH Big Band”, which guarantees a good mood and a lively atmosphere from 11.30 am to 2 pm. The Tuxedo Club Band will then play from 3 – 6 p.m. before handing over to the band “FATE” in the evening, who will heat things up with groovy party music from 7 – 11 p.m.

On Karlsplatz, with its unique view of the castle ruins, guests can expect a magnificent musical and gastronomic offering. The entertainment program starts with “So What feat. Bo Schmich” from 11 am – 2 pm. Afterwards, fans of rock’n roll will get their money’s worth with “Dougie and the blind Brothers” from 3 – 5.30 pm. From 6 pm, the “Ingrid Schwarz Band” will then set off their entertainment fireworks before the lights go out at 11 pm.

The Kornmarkt also welcomes its visitors. Here, “Grenzenlos Music” from 11 am – 2.30 pm, “Sigrun Schuhmacher & Trio Cajon” from 3.30 pm – 6.30 pm and “Who2Ladies” from 7.30 pm – 11 pm provide a great atmosphere.

KIST will be reviving rock history at the fish market from 8 – 11 pm.

The Heumarkt also offers a tried and tested program. The group “Kaiser’s Auslese” will provide the musical prelude from 4 pm. In the evening, the “Dirty Deeds” traditionally delight their audience from 7.30 pm to 11 pm.

After a successful premiere in 2023, the halle02, which invites you to linger on the Nepomuk Terrace, will be back for the second time: From 12 – 4 pm with “Italiano Sprizz (Italo Disco, House & Rare Grooves with Pasquale)”, followed by “Vino & Vinyl (Disco & House on vinyl only with Twist & Boullabass)” from 4 – 6.30 pm until finally from 6.30 – 11 pm “Rave On! (House, Techno & more with Lucci & 4Love and Speedboys) ends the evening.

The Marstallhof opens its doors at 10 a.m. with coffee and cake as well as hot dishes.
The musical part starts at 2.30 pm with OLIV, followed by Olicia at 4 pm and Hover at 5.30 pm, before the Sticky Tapes from the Popakademie Mannheim get the old city wall shaking from 7.30 pm to 11 pm.

A varied program has also been put together on the front university square. The musical prelude will be provided by the Heidelberger Blasmusikanten from 11 am – 3 pm. In the evening, visitors can look forward to a rocking performance by the “Finest Shades of Grey” from 6 – 11 pm.

On the rear University Square, the popular medieval market will once again offer an entertaining spectacle with juggling, juggling, medieval music and a fire show from 11 am – 11 pm.

Under the title “Metropolink’s Garden”, urban romance invites you to Theaterplatz – with light installations on the walls of the buildings, DJs on the container stage, food trucks, delicious drinks and the Lila Vintage Store, Theaterplatz becomes a place of experience par excellence – a meeting place for all generations from 11 am to 11 pm. The after-party in the Theatersaal celebrates its premiere as a cooperation between Metropolink and the ZwingerX format. Admission is at 9 pm, tickets are available during the day on Theaterplatz.

The stage in St.-Anna-Gasse promises an entertaining Heidelberg Autumn Saturday with “B.C. & Friends” from 1 – 5.20 pm and “Gonzos Planet 9” from 6 – 11 pm.

Sunday, 29 September 2024

The “Autumn Sunday” will kick off on Karlsplatz from 12 – 12.30 pm with the Bienenstraße choir. From 1 – 3.30 pm, “La Borra feat. K’fe” will put you in a good mood with Latin music, before the “Ralph US Band” rings in the end of the Heidelberg Autumn Weekend at 4.30 pm.

On the Kornmarkt, the “Huub Dutch Duo” will perform from 12 – 3 pm and the IVORY Band from 4 – 7 pm.

At the Fischmarkt, “Jack Corrigal & Friends” will give you goosebumps from 1 – 7 pm with their intense sounds and passionate singing.

The Dilsberg traditional costume band will be performing on the front University Square from 12 – 2 p.m., before the Kurpfälzer Trabanten present their guards from 2.45 – 3.30 p.m. and demonstrate their skills with dance performances.

The medieval market on the rear university square takes guests of all ages back to times long past. An exciting program of juggling and juggling begins at 11 am,

Comedy and music, before the “Lebewohlgesänge” (songs of farewell) bring the medieval market to a close at 5.15 pm.

Children’s program

The popular flea market for children up to the age of 15 takes place in the courtyard of the Theodor Heuss School on Saturdays from 6.30 am – 6 pm, Sundays from 11 am – 6 pm. Participation is free, registration is not required.

The medieval market on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the rear university square is a great adventure and a journey back in time to the world of knights and jugglers, especially for all younger guests.

In front of the Vogel Gallery at Hauptstraße 25, the Stamp Collectors’ Association is organizing a treasure hunt with philatelic prizes for children and young people on Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm. There will also be the popular “stamp rummage box” again.

On Saturday, children can paint buttons at the Stadtwerke Heidelberg energy store at Hauptstraße 120.

On the Nepomuk Terrace, at the northern end of the Old Bridge, there will be a varied children’s program on Sunday from 11 am – 7 pm – with balloon figures from Bella Balloon, face painting, bead necklace making, children’s games and much more. Special tip: Benny the Bear will be playing at the children’s disco from 3 – 5 pm.

Children can enjoy face painting and glitter tattoos on Karlsplatz on Sunday from 11 am – 7 pm.

The Kurpfälzer Trabanten invite you to the children’s face painting and hair braiding on the Vorderer Universitätsplatz on Sunday from 3.30 – 6 pm.

As part of the shopping Sunday from 1 – 6 p.m., there will be numerous activities for children in many stores.

General information material

All current information on the individual program items and activities is available at www.heidelberg-marketing.de. As in previous years, the Heidelberg4you social media channels provide information about the cultural and stage program.

Traffic and parking
There are currently construction-related disruptions in several places in the Heidelberg city area and on the Deutsche Bahn routes. Please inform yourself in good time before your arrival to avoid any inconvenience and follow the information and detour signs on site.

Visitors are requested to travel by public transport or to avoid the city center area. Both Heidelberg main station and the Altstadt S-Bahn station (near Karlstorbahnhof) can be used to get to the event by S-Bahn. While several streetcar and bus lines run from the main station to the event area at special intervals, the event area is within walking distance from the Altstadt S-Bahn station.

Parking facilities in the city center are very limited. Visitors who still wish to travel by car are advised to use the parking spaces designated for the event at Messplatz in Kirchheimer Weg (free of charge) and at the University Hospital in Neuenheimer Feld (subject to a charge).

Replacement parking spaces for people with disabilities will be set up for the weekend of the event: Untere Neckarstraße at Krahnenplatz and on the B37, below the Old Bridge.

Visitors and residents are also requested to park their bicycles in the designated bicycle stands in all event areas. In the run-up to the event, previously marked bicycle stands will be dismantled.