Zissel: Kassel's folk and water festival

The Zissel is the big North Hessian water and folk festival on and around the river Fulda. Volksfest festival around the river Fulda, with boat races, waterskiing shows, live music, fairground attractions, fireworks, food and drinks.

The origins of the water festival are unfortunately no longer known, but there is talk of boat trips on the Fulda as early as the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, boatmen from the Unterneustadt are said to have spent their summer evenings there with illuminated boats and beer, until the water sports clubs established the Zissel in the 1920s. The festivities used to begin at the Altmarkt and the Marstall and continued on the river.

Since 1926, the Kassel Zissel has been held every year on the first weekend in August (Friday to Monday). Its battle cry is: "Fullewasser, Fullewasser - hoi hoi hoi".

The festival is organized by the association "Zissel in Kassel e.V.", the legal successor to the Zisselgilde and the Zissel Förderkreis. The Zissel Queen, Zissel Princess and Fullenixe reign during the festival. The symbol and emblem of the Zissel is the Zisselhäring, which is hung from the roundel in a festive ceremony at the opening of the Zissel.