Stuttgart Volksfest: advice needed

Hi everyone, advice needed!

After 11 hard and gruelling years of flying over from the UK to visit the Oktoberfest, myself and my best friend Karl have decided to try the Stuttgart Volksfest this year.

Slightly tired of having to queue up at 8-9am over three days in Munich just to get into a tent, and inevitably being inebriated by early evening, we are hoping that the Volksfest will be just as good but without the extreme pressure to get up so early, and drink beer at dawn! At least we hope we can remember more of the evening this time round!

I would welcome any advice from seasoned visitors to the Volksfest so that our trip can be enjoyed at its best and trouble free.

We are staying at the Mercure Hotel, Bad Cannstatt, which I understand is walking distance?

We are going to visit the fest on Thursday 1st,Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd October (landing at 7am on Thursday). Ideally we want to ensure we get seated for all day and night, so would welcome any advice on what time we need to get there on each day to ensure we secured an "unreserved" table? We would rather turn up and see the tent half empty and guarantee to secure a table than to try and convince someone to let us on their table which was always a nightmare in Munich. My guess is Saturday is hell getting seated so timing needs to be known to help us out!

Also which tents have the best atmosphere, we are late 30s so still full of the joys of life and love a good knees up and sing song (and we've heard them all over 11 years at the Oktoberfest!)?

We also wouldn't mind a little drop of vino over the trip, is there a wine tent or booth etc where we can grap a quick few at some stage over the trip (perhaps the Alpine area?)?

Finally where is there to go after the fest finishes? Munich was always so packed that it was difficult to get into any clubs apart from the Kuntzpark Ost area which was always a very strange experience (apologies to anyone who likes it but its a very odd place!)

Also if there are any like minded groups we can join then let me know, we are both amiable blokes and good natured so no trouble!

Finally how far from the airport is the hotel, what should we expect to pay in a cab?

Any advice on any matter would be greatly appreciated by us both!

Many many thanks to anyone with tips!

Cheers

Andy

You have a lot of questions but you seem to be quite well informed regardless!

Most tables are reserved now... you can hang out at them until 4 to 6 pm, depending on the table. Then you can sometimes find a spot at a reserved table if you can find some sympathetic people. And if you sit at a reserved table, that is reserved for say 17:00, you might find that the waiter won't serve you from 16:00 as they want you to be gone from the table. The times have changed, it isn't as simple as a few years ago, but it is not as bad as Munich.

You can read this article... it is short but may provide some insight (the spring fest is quite similar to the volksfest): http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art46009.asp

You're staying within walking distance, for sure, but if you want to head out afterward, you'll need to head to the center.

Schocken has always been our post-fest destination.

I could definitely see myself enjoying meeting you guys down there. If I can make it I'll be in touch. Either way, enjoy.

sorry this is a very short and half hearted reply (very snoozy right now) but if you keep an eye on the thread about the fest by beetle, you can try and get into our tent (there is usually no queue in the afternoons around 4pm), find our reserved seat numbers and if you mention Toytown, bob's yer uncle, there will probably be space at our table, if no space then a bunch of 70 expats, generally aged between 25 and 45 who will greet you with open arms.
as already said, schocken is a good post-fest destination but maybe not too near your hotel.
tents like schwaben-braeu tend to be more traditional and the wasenwirt not so (based on music alone).
enjoy!

Apologies for my delayed reply, I have been on holiday.

Great advice thank you.

We would love to join the Toytown crowd if possible so I will keep my eye on the thread as suggested.

And if anybody wishes to join us from the Thursday 1st to the Saturday 3rd just drop me a line.

Looking forward to experiencing the fest next week!

Cheers,

Andy

If anyone is going to the Wasen on 8th October, try and catch the band Tropical Rain in the Fürstenberg tent. They played the Haager Herbstfest on Sat and were great fun.

hi Katrina,

Hope you are well, bet you are enjoying the Oktoberfest!

As you see Karl and I are trying the Volksfest this year.

You ever been?

Cheers

Andy

I don't have too much good advice about tents, seeing as I have only been to the festival a few times, but as most have said as long as you are there before the reserved times, you will have no problem finding a seat. Both times I went last year we had no trouble and even found some nonreserved tables still available. I think some tents have wrist bands and only let reserved people in, which is kind of sad, but most were open to the public, but all the tents we went into seemed to be pretty fun.

I will be there with a group on the 2nd, at the Chicken Tent, we have some reserved tables and I am sure they will not be completly full, so if you are in that area and hear a bunch of people speaking english, just join in and I am sure they will welcome you!!

The airport is not very close to the festival, so I would advise you to take the train, it is the easiest and least expensive. You can take the S2 or S3 from the airport all the way to Bad Cannstatt for about 3.20 euro I think, it is a 3 zone ticket. I am sure a cab would cost much more, seeing as I live only about 5 mins from the airport and it cost about 10 euro for me to get home from there.

Good luck and hope you guys have fun!!

Hi Andy, yes I have. Years ago I lived in Stuttgart and while it's smaller than the Wiesn, it's still pretty big! You'll have a great time I'm sure, I used to like the Fürstenberg tent as I like their beer, but they are all good.
Look out for Besenwirtschaften, which is when local wineries can sell directly from their doors. Stck "Stuttgart" into Ort on this search and you'll find the ones near to town.
And try the local food - Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli I guess), Spätzle (a rustic noodle)...
Don't forget the car museums if you're into that sort of thing, but am sure you'll have a great visit!

Best way to get in w/o a wait is to stand near an exit and get or buy a ticket from someone leaving. You can go back in right then and there with no wait.