Volksfestplatz Hof | Directions & Parking

The Volksfestplatz in Hof is the central outdoor area for large festivals and open-air events in the city of Hof. It is conveniently located between Nailaer Straße and Ernst-Reuter-Straße, at the intersection with Kulmbacher Straße and directly next to the Freiheitshalle Hof. This location makes the area easily accessible by both car and public transport: The Hof-Neuhof train station is located right next to the site, several city bus lines serve the stop at Freiheitshalle, and during peak times, a special festival bus complements the service. Traditionally, the area transforms into a lively space with rides, food stalls, music, and cultural traditions every year for the Hofer Volksfest. It is particularly important for visitors to note that there is no ATM available at the festival grounds and cashless payment is not possible everywhere – those who want to enjoy the festival relaxed should bring enough cash. Thanks to the neighboring infrastructure of Freiheitshalle, there are numerous parking options available in the vicinity during non-event times; for large events, special solutions such as parking areas on Schützenweg are established, and public transport is increased.

Directions and Parking at Volksfestplatz Hof

For those arriving by car, the Volksfestplatz is easy to find due to its location between Nailaer Straße and Ernst-Reuter-Straße. The access routes are signposted within the city, and the area is directly adjacent to Kulmbacher Straße, an important inner-city axis. Those using a navigation system should ideally refer to the address of the neighboring Freiheitshalle (Kulmbacher Str. 4, 95030 Hof) or directly to the mentioned streets. Outside of large events, guests use the parking spaces around Freiheitshalle and Volksfestplatz; the city of Hof lists the area "Volksfestplatz/Freiheitshalle" with approximately 350 free parking spaces in its overview "Parking in Hof." This creates a good starting point, especially on regular event days, as it offers short distances to the square, the hall, and the Theater Hof. Once the Volksfestplatz itself is used as an event area, the parking situation changes: During the Hofer Volksfest, additional parking options are set up in close proximity on Schützenweg for a small fee. At the same time, the city points out that it can get crowded in the immediate vicinity of the festival grounds – early arrival or the use of public transport is therefore recommended. For visitors with mobility impairments, accessible parking spaces are designated at the main entrance to the Volksfestplatz on Kulmbacher Straße; the paths on the flat festival grounds are short. The combination of Park & Ride is also practical: Those who park at the main train station can take the train to Hof-Neuhof and comfortably walk the last few meters. Additionally, depending on the event, further public parking spaces are available in the extended vicinity, which the city lists in its parking overviews. For transport and production logistics, the directly adjacent Volksfestplatz is also designated as a large parking and maneuvering area; Freiheitshalle states that the square has a usable area of about 12,000 square meters, which can be partially cordoned off if necessary and equipped with power connections for technical vehicles – an important advantage for festival and large event logistics.

Opening Hours, Program, and Highlights of the Hofer Volksfest 2025

When the Volksfestplatz transforms into the Hofer Volksfest every summer, it attracts thousands of guests from the city and surrounding areas to the grounds between Nailaer Straße and Ernst-Reuter-Straße. For 2025, the city has published the key data: The festival will take place from Friday, July 25, 2025, to Sunday, August 3, 2025. It will be open from Sunday to Thursday from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM. The traditional grand parade marks the start of the festival, which begins on the opening day at 5:00 PM at the Hof Town Hall and proceeds through Ludwigstraße, Oberes Tor, the Old Town, Luitpoldstraße, Marienstraße, Konrad-Adenauer-Platz, and Schützenstraße to Kulmbacher Straße – entering through the main entrance to the Volksfestplatz and crossing the grounds to the beer garden. Musical accompaniment, traditional bands, and numerous associations from Hof and the region shape the scene; the city mentions several dozen groups with several thousand participants for the 2025 parade. In the festival tent, the official beer tapping will be performed by the mayor, this year together with Meinel-Bräu; the city will also communicate the price per liter for 2025. The festival relies on a tried-and-true mix: thrilling rides, children's attractions, game booths, classic snacks from sausages to fish sandwiches to fried fish, international dishes like pizza, crêpes, langos, or churros, as well as various sweet offerings from chocolate-covered fruits to roasted almonds. This is complemented by bars and beer stands, where Hof beer is served among other options. Important service notes have been clearly stated by the city: Cashless payment is not possible at all stands, and there is no ATM available at the festival grounds – a trip to the ATM in advance saves time and waiting. In terms of security, no entry checks are planned; however, bag checks will take place on the grounds and in the tent. Those who want to avoid loud music and crowds should plan their visit for the early afternoon hours on weekdays – when families and children are using the offerings and the paths on the square are more manageable.

Location between Nailaer Straße and Ernst-Reuter-Straße: Orientation on Site

The Volksfestplatz is easily located both topographically and urbanistically: It lies between Nailaer Straße and Ernst-Reuter-Straße, directly at the intersection with Kulmbacher Straße. This location means short distances to significant cultural and event venues in the city, especially to the immediately adjacent Freiheitshalle Hof. The prominently visible roof of Freiheitshalle is illuminated in blue at night and serves as a visual landmark for guests approaching the area. Opposite Freiheitshalle is the Theater Hof; together with the newly built KlangManufaktur, this section forms the well-known cultural mile. For visitors to the Volksfest, orientation is correspondingly simple: Those coming from the city center follow Kulmbacher Straße, pass Konrad-Adenauer-Platz, and reach the main entrance to the Volksfestplatz in just a few minutes. The paths from Hof-Neuhof train station, which is located directly at the site, are also short. The large, flat area of the square provides space for rides, booths, tents, and pathways during the Volksfest; outside of festival times, the square, in conjunction with the surrounding areas, serves as a generous visitor parking lot for events at Freiheitshalle. For personal time management, the city’s notices are helpful: The parade crosses the grounds on the opening day, so certain areas may be temporarily inaccessible; furthermore, the city and organizers recommend bringing only necessary bags, as bag checks will occur at various points. For evening departures, it is noted that due to the proximity to Kulmbacher Straße and the stops at Freiheitshalle, the flows of people will quickly disperse onto trains, buses, and individual traffic.

Public Transport, Festival Bus, and Train: Convenient Access to the Festival Grounds

A significant advantage of the Volksfestplatz is its efficient accessibility without a car. The Hof-Neuhof train station is located directly at the site; agilis lines connect the station hourly, allowing you to reach here from Hof main station in just about three minutes. From the stop, it is only a few steps across Nailaer Straße or Kulmbacher Straße to the festival grounds. During the Volksfest, the city additionally operates a festival bus that complements the HofVerkehr bus network; route maps and stops are published by the city and made available in the download area. Those who get off at Freiheitshalle have the choice between several city bus lines that serve the hub at the hall; the stop is called 'Freiheitshalle' and is located directly in front of the building. For long-distance arrivals, Hof is conveniently positioned: There are connections from all directions to the A9 (west), A93 (east), and A72 (northwest) highways, allowing visitors from Upper Franconia, Vogtland, or northeastern Bavaria to arrive quickly. This combination of train, bus, and road access is particularly beneficial during peak times: Those planning to take one of the last rides in the evening should keep an eye on departure times and quickly make their way from the festival grounds to the stop. The city’s Park & Ride concept recommends leaving the car at the main train station and using the short train connection to Hof-Neuhof; alternatively, the large parking lot on Plauener Straße is available, from which you can walk the last few meters. Last but not least, the festival bus helps to avoid parking pressure in the immediate vicinity – contributing to a stress-free visit, especially when visitor numbers significantly increase in the early evening.

Accessibility, Safety, and Visitor Information

The Volksfestplatz is generally well walkable and accessible as a flat outdoor area. The city of Hof designates accessible parking spaces at the main entrance on Kulmbacher Straße during festival times; these are marked and connected to the grounds via short paths. Visitors with wheelchairs or strollers benefit from the wide pathways, which vary seasonally depending on the setup of rides and booths but are designed to accommodate large visitor numbers. In terms of safety, the city communicates clear, visitor-friendly rules: General entry checks are not planned, but bag checks will occur both on the grounds and in the festival tent. These occasional checks may be conducted multiple times for security reasons – those arriving with small bags and reduced luggage save time. For open-air formats in the immediate vicinity of Freiheitshalle, standard prohibitive rules apply: Glass bottles and containers, weapons or weapon-like objects, pyrotechnics, drones, and professional photography equipment are excluded for safety and liability reasons. The city also recommends bringing sufficient cash, as not all stands accept cashless payment and there are no ATMs at the festival grounds. For all arrivals, it is essential to realistically assess the traffic situation: Especially on weekends and in good weather, the surroundings can be very busy; arriving early and using the festival bus or train alleviates access issues. Media reports and city notices emphasize that parking in the immediate vicinity can be challenging during peak times – thus, utilizing the designated areas in Schützenweg and surroundings as well as the Park & Ride offer is advisable.

Organizer Information and Space Usage: Area, Power, and Proximity to Freiheitshalle

In addition to its role as a festival area, the Volksfestplatz also serves as a functional infrastructure space for events at Freiheitshalle. The hall describes the square at the main entrance as a visitor parking lot with an area of about 12,000 square meters – large enough to cordon off parts if necessary and to use for production parking, stage containers, or technical vehicles. Thanks to the existing power distribution, necessary connections for OB vans, food trucks, or generator supply can be realized. Additionally, there is a technical delivery area of about 700 square meters with power connection options, as well as a separate outdoor event area in close proximity to the 'Großes Haus' event space of Freiheitshalle (approximately 750 square meters). For organizers, this means: The Volksfestplatz is not only a backdrop for the Hofer Volksfest but also a logistical backbone for trade fairs, concerts, TV productions, or sports events in the hall – from backstage parking to temporary power supply. Due to its central location at the intersection of Ernst-Reuter-/Kulmbacher Straße and its proximity to Hof-Neuhof train station, deliveries can be efficiently managed via Nailaer Straße; Freiheitshalle explicitly refers to access via Nailaer Straße for nightliners and technical deliveries ("Delivery/Technology," second entrance). Those planning large-scale open-air events thus benefit from short distances between the interior of the hall, outdoor areas, and the expansive Volksfestplatz. In quieter times, the square serves as a generous parking lot for hall events; the city’s parking overview lists it together with Freiheitshalle with around 350 free parking spaces, making even highly attended evenings – such as during parallel theater and hall events – manageable. This dual usage explains why the Volksfestplatz in Hof plays a key role in the city’s event calendar: as a festival ground, as a logistical area, and as a parking space – flexibly combinable as needed.

Sources:

• City of Hof – Hof Folk Festival (de)
• City of Hof – Hof Folk Festival (en)
• City of Hof – Parking in Hof (Parking Overview, Volksfestplatz/Freiheitshalle)
• Freiheitshalle Hof – Directions, Parking, and Areas (including approx. 12,000 m² space)
• City of Hof – Hof Folk Festival 2025: "Do triffst fei alla!"
• Frankenpost – Hof Folk Festival: No Fun Without Safety (Access, Parking, Information)