Gera celebrates the Cave Festival: 3 days full of fun and surprises!

Gera celebrates the Cave Festival: 3 days full of fun and surprises!

There will soon be a state of emergency in Gera! From October 3rd to 5th, 2025, the city will be the venue for the 34th Cave Festival, which will feature a colorful program for young and old. Particularly worth seeing are the traditional caves located in the city's underground cavities. Originally intended as cold rooms for beer and coal, they now represent a unique cultural heritage.

The opening of the festival strains the nerves right from the start: at 1:15 p.m. 788 chimes ring out from the town hall tower, followed by 788 fanfares at 1:45 p.m. The official starting signal will then be given at 2:00 p.m. with the tapping of draft beer by Mayor Kurt Dannenberg, which is already making the hearts of Gera residents and guests beat faster. The festival area extends across the old town, including Puschkin and Museum Square, Markt, Sorge, Großer Kirchstraße, Zschochernplatz and Nicolaiberg, where a diverse program awaits visitors, offering entertainment over the three days.

A celebration full of highlights

What can visitors expect at the jubilant cave festival? On the first day of the festival there is not only a dance show by the “Brillanten”, but also a performance by the well-known band SILLY. On Saturday, those present can look forward to a magnificent historical parade by the cave club at 4:15 p.m. and the awarding of the Köstritz beer bar by the mayor, followed by a cult concert with the 1. Vollmershainer Schalmeien e.V. and a party with Leon Brandel and the performance of PILEDRIVER. The conclusion on Sunday will be festively framed with a concert by Final Selection, presented by Vogtlandradio.

Families don't miss out either: a children's meadow invites you to play with options such as bungee trampolines, carousels and beach balls. There is also a wine village on Zschochernplatz with various winemakers and wines, while on the Hohlermeile in Steinweg there is no shortage of live music and dance halls. Gera is also ideally positioned for culinary delights at the weekend - numerous stalls on Sorge, Johannisstrasse, Schlossstrasse and Bachgasse offer delicacies for every taste. And for lovers of the flea market, the Nicolaiberg opens its doors from Friday to Sunday.

Practical information and arrival

To ensure a carefree journey, the city recommends using public transport. For those who prefer to come by car, there are numerous parking options in the city center, including the Gera Arcaden and Dr.-Eckner-Straße. Attention: Due to traffic restrictions, some streets in the city center will be closed from October 2nd to 6th, including Pushkinplatz, which will be closed for the entire festival.

For the discount freak, there is also a cave festival wristband for 2 euros, which offers reduced entry to museums and other benefits. These are available from the Gera information office, the museums and from the cave association. Numerous sponsors, including the Köstritzer Schwarzbierbrauerei and the Sparkasse Gera-Greiz, support the festival so that the people of Gera and their guests can experience an unforgettable weekend.

Whether enjoying the beer, taking part in the various activities or strolling through the historic caves - the anticipation of the cave festival is great, and the city of Gera welcomes everyone to celebrate and discover together. So, off to the adventure of the 34th Cave Festival!