The festival in the Kulturpark took place for the first time in 1977 and was held as a music festival for families in the Reisinger and Herbert parks.

In the 1990s, the Folklore festival was moved to the park at Freudenberg Castle (Folklore “in the Garden”). Attendance reached up to 60,000, mostly young people, so the program was geared more toward a younger audience. In 2004, it was decided to move the festival to the grounds of the Schlachthof Cultural Center, and the organization was handed over to its operators. In August 2007, the festival opened on the Schlachthof grounds, and the phrase “im Garten” was removed from the name. Starting in 2009, Folklore drew a total of around 20,000 visitors over all three days.

In addition to music—rock, pop, hip-hop, and reggae—the festival was also known for its culinary offerings featuring dishes from around the world. There were also booths run by political and social initiatives as well as artisans. Street theater and family programs were also on offer.

After moving to the former slaughterhouse grounds, the debate over noise pollution affecting local residents continued. The festival took place for the last time in 2015.