Quick answer
The Aitrang Walpurgis Night Bonfire (Maifeuer Aitrang) is a free, unticketed village bonfire held every April 30 at dusk on the volunteer fire brigade's gravel lot beside the firehouse in Aitrang, Ostallgäu. The brigade's youth group builds and burns a wooden witch effigy, alongside a Bratwurst stand, a drinks stand, smaller warming fires, and fire-truck rides for kids. It is a separate event from the Maifeuer held the same night in nearby Huttenwang, which is organized independently by a local vintage-car club.
- Best for
- Travelers already staying in or passing through the Ostallgäu on April 30 — for instance en route to Füssen, Neuschwanstein, the Allgäu Alps, or the nearby Elbsee — who want a genuine, low-key village Walpurgisnacht custom rather than a produced festival. Families with young children will find the fire-truck rides and games a good fit. Not worth a dedicated trip from Munich or farther afield on its own.
- Booking urgency
- Free and unticketed, with no fixed start time — the fire is lit once it gets dark. On-site parking at the firehouse is limited, so plan to park in Aitrang's village center and walk in.
Volunteer fire brigade lights a bonfire and burns a witch effigy to welcome spring.
At dusk on April 30, Aitrang's volunteer fire department lights a bonfire on its firehouse gravel lot and burns a wooden witch figure built by its youth group — a medieval custom meant to drive out winter's evil spirits. Bratwurst and drinks stands, smaller warming fires and fire-truck rides for kids round out the evening. Note: a separate Maifeuer bonfire is held the same night in Huttenwang, a hamlet in the same municipality, organized independently by a local vintage-car club at its own site — a different event, not part of this one.
The full story
Each year on April 30, Aitrang's volunteer fire brigade (Freiwillige Feuerwehr Aitrang) lights a bonfire on the gravel lot beside its firehouse in this Ostallgäu village between Kaufbeuren and Kempten. At the center of the fire is a wooden witch figure built in advance by the brigade's own youth group and burned as dusk falls — there's no fixed start time; the fire is lit once it gets dark. A Bratwurst stand and a drinks stand serve the crowd, several smaller warming fires ring the main bonfire, and children can take rides in the fire truck. Admission is free, and no ticket or reservation is needed.
The brigade describes the custom, also known as Tanz in den Mai or Hexenfeuer, as a medieval tradition meant to welcome spring and drive out winter's evil spirits — framing consistent with the wider German Walpurgisnacht custom of lighting bonfires on the night before May Day. No source establishes when Aitrang's own bonfire began; the earliest confirmed reference is to a 2019 edition, already described then as an established annual event, so no specific founding year is claimed here. One distinction worth noting for visitors: a separate, unrelated Maifeuer bonfire is held the same night in Huttenwang, a hamlet within the same municipality, organized independently by the Rappentaler Oldtimerfreunde vintage-car club at its own site. It is not part of the fire brigade's event in Aitrang village and shouldn't be confused with it.
On-site parking at the firehouse is limited, so plan to park in Aitrang's village center and walk in. For a fuller evening, Gasthof Ziegerer, the village's own family-run inn, is a straightforward dinner stop before the fire is lit. This is a small, unticketed village event without a formal program or festival-scale food and drink offering — it suits travelers already in the Ostallgäu on April 30 who want a genuine taste of a local Bavarian spring custom rather than a produced spectacle, more than it suits a dedicated special trip. Explore Swabia events for more Allgäu spring customs nearby.
History
Described by the organizers as a medieval custom practiced to welcome spring.
Eat & Drink Nearby
- Local specialty
- A village Walpurgisnacht bonfire in Aitrang, with Bratwurst and drinks stands run by the volunteer fire brigade alongside smaller warming fires.
- Pair it with
- Aitrang's own Gasthaus for a proper meal before heading to the bonfire.
- Itinerary fit
- An evening bonfire event with fire-truck rides for kids — best paired with dinner in town beforehand, since seating is limited outdoors.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there an entry fee for the Aitrang bonfire?
- No — it's a free, unticketed village event with no admission charge.
- What time does it start?
- There's no fixed start time; the fire is lit once it gets dark on April 30.
- What happens at the event?
- The volunteer fire brigade lights a bonfire and burns a wooden witch effigy built by its youth group, with a Bratwurst stand, a drinks stand, smaller warming fires, and fire-truck rides and games for kids.
- Is this the same event as the Huttenwang Maifeuer?
- No. Huttenwang's bonfire is a separate event held the same night in a different hamlet of the same municipality, organized independently by a local vintage-car club at its own site — not the fire brigade's event in Aitrang village.
- Is it good for kids?
- Yes — the fire brigade offers fire-truck rides and simple games alongside the bonfire and food stands.
- Where should I park?
- Parking at the firehouse itself is limited; park in Aitrang's village center instead and walk to the site.
- Free entry