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Friedenstein Festival in Gotha: Celebrate 1,250 years of history!
Experience the Friedenstein Festival in Gotha from October 23rd to 26th, 2025: historical fair, parades and more for the city's 1,250th anniversary.
Friedenstein Festival in Gotha: Celebrate 1,250 years of history!
The Friedenstein Festival in Gotha is just around the corner and promises to be a brilliant spectacle from October 23rd to 26th, 2025. To mark the 1,250th anniversary of the first mention of the city of Gotha, there are numerous festivities in the castle courtyard. Thanks to free entry, everyone can enjoy the atmosphere and diversity of the festival. It is already clear: there is a lot on offer here for history buffs as well as families and friends. MDR reports that the plans are very diverse.
At the historic fair, visitors can look forward to a journey into the past with craftsmanship, jugglery, music, drama and baroque dance. Anyone looking for a bit of thrill has the opportunity to have fun on nostalgic rides: the Ferris wheel from 1928 or the original caterpillar track from the 1920s provide the right flair. With a special “Friedenstaler” you can enjoy rides for just 1.25 euros.
A program full of highlights
The opening hours of the fair are from Thursday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday until 5 p.m. Under the motto “1250 years through Gotha’s history,” visitors can expect an impressive illumination show on Thursday and Saturday, which can be admired from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Friday even until 9 p.m. Another highlight is the historic parade on Saturday, October 25th at 12:50 p.m. Here, over 1,500 participants parade through the city with more than 100 pictures about the history of Gotha. The venue is Gartenstrasse on the corner of Huttenstrasse.
The weekend is rounded off by the performances of the Wisdom siblings, who will be on stage on Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. The younger guests are also catered for: the festival offers various children's activities every day and a special focus on a nostalgic journey through Gotha's history. Gotha ennobles provides an overview of the next actions.
A look into the past
Those interested can also visit the museums in Gotha, where half-price admission applies during the festival. A current exhibition entitled “Gotha Brilliant?!” invites you to an exciting journey of discovery. Anyone interested in earth history should not miss the geological tours in the Bromacker lab on Saturday at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
Friday will be rounded off with a Club Night after-show party, while Sunday will end with a peace service at 10 a.m. in the castle church. The festival officially ends on Sunday, October 26th at 5 p.m. As part of this festival, the tradition of peace festivals, which was started by Duke Ernst the Pious in 1650, is continued.
Arrival and information
Anyone who would like to visit the festival can easily reach Gotha by car or public transport. Free and paid parking spaces are available in the area. It is only a 15-minute walk from Gotha train station to the festival site, and a tram also takes guests to the Bahnhofstrasse stop. The Friedenstein Castle Foundation is looking forward to numerous visitors!