City of Stuttgart enjoys festive liberty, free of charge celebration.
The Umsonst & Draußen (U & D) festival in Stuttgart, Germany, is an annual event that has been a fixture on the city's cultural landscape for over four decades. The 44th edition of the festival took place in August 2025, attracting over 3000 visitors.
A Festival of Freedom and Solidarity
Originally held on the "Uniwiese" (university meadow) in Stuttgart for many years, the festival moved to the Festplatz Krehlstraße in Stuttgart-Vaihingen due to nature protection regulations at the original site. Despite the change in location, the festival's commitment to independence from commercial interests has remained steadfast.
U & D's mission is to provide an open, free, and inclusive space where people can experience music and culture without barriers such as entrance fees or commercial sponsorships. It is dedicated to showcasing music, political discourse, and cultural exchange with a focus on solidarity and community.
A Melting Pot of Music and Politics
As the largest non-commercial music-politics-culture festival in Stuttgart, U & D stands out for its lack of barriers: no admission fees, no fenced-off areas, and no commercial advertising. The event featured 18 bands, 4 singer-songwriters, and a variety of music genres, including indie-rock, rap, Celtic folk, and more.
Beyond music, U & D offers workshops, discussions, circus acts, children’s activities, and political exchange, making it a multifaceted platform for culture and activism at the heart of the city. Visitors often arrive without specific expectations and leave having discovered memorable new experiences and favorites.
Sustainable Practices and Community Spirit
The free fruit available at U & D comes from plots of land leased from the former orchard operation Hammer and are now maintained as allmenden. Visitors are encouraged to pick fruit from the allmenden to remember the taste of fresh fruit from the bush. The festival is primarily funded by the sale of food and drinks, sponsorship money, and city funding.
U & D has a clear left-alternative orientation, and political groups working in Stuttgart are provided with a platform to present themselves. The festival's information booths reflect the entire spectrum of current crises and protests, from the war in Ukraine to local citizen initiatives against Stuttgart 21 and the development of site A2.
A Collective Experiment in Urban Culture
Umsonst & Draußen is considered a "collective experiment" demonstrating urban cultural vitality and the power of grassroots organization. It is a testament to Stuttgart’s vibrant civic culture, emphasizing free access, artistic diversity, and social-political engagement.
The Uhlbacher Allmenden, managed by 13 active participants, embody the political motto "Concrete Utopia: Solidary Society". Apples and mirabelles are also free at the Uhlbacher Allmenden e. V. Essbare Region stand.
In summary, Umsonst & Draußen is a culturally and politically significant, community-driven festival that emphasizes free access, artistic diversity, and social-political engagement, reflecting Stuttgart’s vibrant civic culture. Freifunk.net works for free internet access for everyone, including refugees, asylum seekers, and the homeless, further reinforcing the festival's commitment to inclusivity.
[1] Source: Umsonst & Draußen Festival
- The Umsonst & Draußen (U & D) festival, a cultural staple in Stuttgart, Germany, offers a lifestyle that promotes music, politics, and culture without barriers, providing food-and-drink options in a sustainable manner.
- The festival, known for its home-and-garden initiative with free fruit from the Uhlbacher Allmenden, also offers entertainment that spans various genres, including workshops, discussions, and circus acts.
- U & D's dedication to social-media promotion helps it reach a wider audience, inviting people to engage and share their experiences from this open, free, and inclusive event.
- The festival, with its political focus and left-alternative orientation, serves as a platform for political discourse and general-news dissemination, reflecting current crises and protests, such as the war in Ukraine and local citizen initiatives.
