Stuttgart and Wassen Volksfest

Just finished two days in Stuttgart, Germany. Attend the Wassen or Volksfest on both Friday afternoon and Saturday evening. The Volksfest is similar to Munich’s Oktoberfest. Just a little smaller, only 4 million visitors, and far fewer tourists from around the world.
Walked right into the Schwabenbrau tent on Friday afternoon. Great party going on, but only a couple thousand drinking, singing and dancing in a tent that holds up to 5,000. The carnival midway was busy, but far from crowded.
Following a couple of 1 liter beers and walk around the grounds I walked to the Das Leuze spa, a short way across the river from the Volksfest grounds. Das Leuze is a over a mineral hot spring. In addition to the mineral waters they have a large sauna and steam room area. This area is adult only and if you aren’t familiar with German spas, they are no bathing suits allowed, but you can wrap yourself in a towel. Also, this spa has a large children’s area and numerous pools. All of the mineral spas are outdoors and accessible by kids. I put my swimsuit on for the mineral spas and didn’t see any adults nude in these pools.
On Saturday I went to the Staatsgalerie Museum. For a city of Stuttgart’s size I was impressed by the depth and breadth of their collect. Well worth a couple of hours. Then, a walk around central Stuttgart’s shopping streets and public parks. Lunch was at Carl’s Brauhaus, the city-center outlet for Dinkelacker beer, Stuttgart’s hometown brewery. Had a Kellerbier and a Pilsner, both very good.
Saturday evening found me back at the Volksfest. It was unimaginably more crowed than Friday. You could only enter the tents with an advance purchase wrist band or get in line for an wait expected to last at least a couple of hours. Instead, I found my way to an “Alpine Village” located in a back corner of the grounds. This area had food and beer kiosks along with three outdoor area with music. At the end of my evening I strolled past the main tents. All were completely full and in full Volksfest mode.
I recommend a trip to Stuttgart at anytime and especially during Volksfest. Given the timing of Oktoberfest and Volksfest, you could do both festivals on the same trip.