BWM’s Exclusive Recap of Stuttgart Bear Meeting 2024!
The Stuttgart Bear Meeting took place from May 8th through 12th and was a phenomenal success! Details and exclusive pictures below!
The 19th annual Stuttgart Bear Pride celebration took place at various venues throughout the scenic German city which also serves as the capital of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. Bears came from throughout Germany, Europe, the United States and even from as far away as Australia to join in the festivities.
Till Scheurle of the Stuttgart Bears and the organizing committee of the event was kind enough to share his insights and exclusive photos from this year’s event us which are incorporated into the schedule of events below.
WEDNESDAY May 8
BUMP BEARS
8:00 p.m EAGLE STUTTGART, MOZARTSTRASSE 51, 70180 STUTTGART
Early birds gathered at the Stuttgart Eagle on Wednesday night to rub elbows (amongst other things). Approximately 200 eager bears attended to build excitement for the coming weekend.
THURSDAY May 9
WANDERING BEARS
11:00 AM MEETING POINT: “RUHBANK (TV TOWER)” TRAM STOP
This year’s hiking excursion went from the southern hill of Stuttgart’s television hill down towards Bad Cannstatt with a beautiful view of the Neckar Valley. Other destinations on the approximately three-and-a-half-hour hike were Villa Berg and Rosenstein Castle. Till tells us “Wandering Bears was one of the highlights for me. On a bright sunny day Stephan led over 140 bears safely from the top hill of television tower through a beautiful landscape to the Augustiner Beer Garden – which we changed into a bear garden! (laughs) – where we were able to rest a bit before the Gaydelight Party.”
VESPER BEARS
3:00 PM AUGUSTINER BEER GARDEN, KÖNIGSPLATZ 1, 70372 STUTTGART
This year, after the hike, the bears stopped at the “Augustiner Beer Garden” at the spa park in Bad Cannstatt.
ROCKING BEARS
6:00 PM MARQUEE ZUM WASENWIRT, MERCEDESSTRASSE 50, 70372 STUTTGART
Partygoers put on their lederhosen for Gaydelight at the spring festival on Cannstatter Wasen. “There were over 4000 queer people in the tent!” Till tells us. We had the upper floor section to ourselves where 300 bears dance, drank and got cuddly. Some even went on to the afterparty which continued until very late.”
FRIDAY May 10
RACCOONS
1:00 PM THE LEUZE, AM LEUZEBAD 2A, 70190 STUTTGART
After Budapest, Stuttgart has the second highest mineral water supply in Europe. The Leuze mineral baths (“Das Leuze”) is one of the three large thermal baths in Stuttgart and attendees made good use of it. Talk about bear soup?!
SAUBÄREN
1:00 PM VIVA-SAUNA, CHARLOTTENSTRASSE 38, 70182 STUTTGART
Nothing we can share unfortunately from the sauna but I’m sure you can use your imagination. WOOF!
WUNDERFITZBÄREN
2:00 PM WILHELMA, WILHELMA 13, 70376 STUTTGART
This tour provided an exclusive look behind the scenes at the Wilhelma Zoo and Botanical Garden. Attendees were able to explore areas that are not accessible to the public during a regular visit.
FEED BEARS
4:00 PM AUGUSTINER BEER GARDEN, KÖNIGSPLATZ 1, 70372 STUTTGART
Refreshments and shenanigans were had in the Augustinian beer garden.
BARBARIANS
8:00 PM CAFÉ WEISS, GEISSSTRASSE 16, 70173 STUTTGART
The traditional pub evening for the Stuttgart Bear Meeting once again took place in the legendary Café Weiß with its kitschy 1950s/60s ambience. The place was so packed it spilled into the outdoor alley.
SATURDAY May 11
EXPLANATION BEARS
12:00 PM MEETING POINT: BISMARCKPLATZ IN FRONT OF THE ST. ELISABETH CHURCH
This year’s event featured another architecture tour by Bear Dirk. He showed the bears around the Karlshöhe & through the streets of western Stuttgart, making sure to stop for snacks and refreshments.
GOSSIP BEARS
3:00 PM CAFÉ STÖCKLE, JOHANNESSTRASSE 76, 70176 STUTTGART
Gossip and goodies at Café Stöckle in the west of Stuttgart.
DANCING BEARS
8:00 PM CLUB MAKE, SALIERSTRASSE 46, 70736 FELLBACH
“My other favorite event was the main dance party at Club MAKE” Till told us. “Over 400 bears celebrating life itself and the broadcast of one of the queerest events on earth: the ESC (European Song Contest). We danced until morning and the actual Mr. Bear Germany, DJ Andy RX, played music for us along with DJ Criz.”
SUNDAY May 12
GSÄLZBÄREN
11:00 AM BRAUHAUS SCHÖNBUCH, BOLZSTRASSE 10, 70173 STUTTGART
On Sunday, after a night of partying, the bears feasted extensively at the popular Bärenbrunch (Bear Brunch)in the “Brauhaus Schönbuch”.
SMART BEARS
7:00 PM REBOOTS, BOPSERSTR. 9, 70180 STUTTGART
The Stuttgart Bear Meeting wrapped up at reBOOTS with a good round of bear trivia with everyone already planning for next year.
Our congratulations to Bernd, Criz, Dirk, Marco, Marcus, Michael, Musie, Stephan and Till of the Stuttgart Bears for organizing such a fun and diverse program of events! You sure know how to show the bears a good time!
The Stuttgart Bear Meeting will return next year for its 20th anniversary from May 28th to June 1st, 2025, and it promises to be bigger, better and faster than ever before!
To stay up to date with the Stuttgart Bears and next year’s Bear Meeting be sure to check their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
