RhönDance

RhönDance is an annual furry dance night in Oberelsbach, a small market town in the Bavarian Rhön, in the far north of Bavaria. It has been held every October since 2021 at the Elstalhalle, and it is run by Freunde auf 2 Pfoten e.V., the volunteer association from the same town that also organizes SpringFurCon in Schweinfurt.

The sixth edition, RhönDance 6, was set for October 16-17, 2026 with the theme LAN-Pa(w)rty, a nod to old-school LAN parties. As in recent years the weekend has three parts: a bar evening on Friday, a fursuit walk in Fulda on Saturday afternoon, and the dance itself on Saturday night.

What to Expect

The Saturday dance is the main event. Doors open at 17:00 and the music runs until 03:00, which the organizers describe as ten hours of music. The bar opens with the doors and stops serving at 02:00, an hour before the end, because the hall rental contract and drinks licence require it.

The DJ team mixes well-known fandom DJs, newcomers and DJs from outside the fandom, and the line-up is announced on the association's social channels before the night. Past calls for DJs asked for 1980s and 1990s music, 2000s and 2010s hits, and rock and metal alongside dance and chart sets. For a quieter break there is a separate lounge room for conversation, and fursuiters get a supervised suit lounge plus a numbered storage room for suit boxes.

Every edition has a theme that shapes the cocktail names and the buffet, which is included in every ticket and kept secret until the night. A charity auction runs during the evening, selling the theme artwork and items donated by guests, and the proceeds go to the association's charity of the year. For 2026 that charity is the women's refuges in Schweinfurt.

The Friday bar evening starts at 18:00 in Oberelsbach, in a bar room dressed up as an internet café for the 2026 theme, and is open to anyone arriving early.

How to Get Tickets

Tickets are sold in the association's pretix ticket shop, which the RhönDance page links to. For 2026 the organizer lists three levels: Standard at 30 EUR with entry and buffet, Sponsor at 45 EUR with a sponsor gift added, and Sponsor Plus at 60 EUR, which adds a soft drink flat rate. The hall holds 250 guests, and registration for 2026 opened on July 26.

RhönDance is for adults only. The organizers say this follows from German youth protection law for an event with an alcohol licence. The Fulda suitwalk before the dance is open to minors as usual.

You can load drink credit onto your badge when you register, and a card terminal on site tops it up during the night. Bringing your own drinks is not allowed, and security checks this.

How to Get There

The Elstalhalle is at Marktstraße 11, 97656 Oberelsbach. The hall is step-free, with a large outdoor area in front of it where the volume has to come down from 22:00 to respect the village's quiet hours. The organizer page shows a map of parking zones, and if those fill up you can park in the surrounding streets as long as traffic is not blocked.

Oberelsbach is a rural town, and the organizers expect most guests to arrive by car. Guests without a car or a train connection are pointed to a Telegram group for shared rides, linked from the RhönDance FAQ. In past years a shuttle bus ran from the Fulda suitwalk to the hall and back, but the organizers announced that there is no shuttle for 2026.

For a place to sleep, the organizers suggest holiday flats, guesthouses and hotels in Oberelsbach and its villages, listed on the Oberelsbach tourism site. They have urged guests in past years to book early, before rooms in the Rhön are gone.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is RhönDance 2026?

RhönDance 6 was set for Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17, 2026. Friday is a bar evening from 18:00, and the dance runs on Saturday from 17:00 to 03:00 at the Elstalhalle in Oberelsbach.

Is RhönDance 18+?

Yes. The dance is open only to adults, because the event serves alcohol, while the suitwalk in Fulda before it is open to minors.

How much does RhönDance cost?

For 2026 the Standard ticket is 30 EUR with the buffet included. The Sponsor level costs 45 EUR and adds a gift, and Sponsor Plus costs 60 EUR and also includes unlimited soft drinks.

Can I join only the Fulda suitwalk?

Yes. The organizers ask walk-only guests to sign up by email at [email protected].

Is there a shuttle from Fulda?

Not in 2026. Earlier editions ran a bus from the Fulda suitwalk to Oberelsbach and back after the dance, but the organizers announced in April 2026 that there would be no shuttle this year, so arrange a car share in good time.