140 Years FFW Ried — Fire Brigade Festival

An Anniversary for the Guardians of Fire Brigade Tradition

When a volunteer fire brigade in Bavaria celebrates its founding festival, it is rarely just an internal club event — it is an occasion for the entire village to gather. The FFW Ried in the Swabian municipality of Ried near Mering, located in the Aichach-Friedberg district, is celebrating this anniversary in 2026 at the Steberhalle, the traditional festival venue of the village.

Ried near Mering in the Aichach-Friedberg District

Ried is located on the edge of the Reichen Ebene, about ten kilometers southeast of the major city of Augsburg, on the railway line to Munich. The small municipality belongs to the Swabian district of Aichach-Friedberg in the administrative region of Swabia — thus, it is already on the western periphery of the greater Munich area. The fire brigade, like everywhere else in Bavaria, is a central pillar of village life here, alongside the church, the shooting club, and the traditional music band.

The Steberhalle as a Festival Venue

The Steberhalle in Ried is the central event location of the municipality. It hosts founding festivals, parish festivals, carnival balls, and concerts. The 140th anniversary of the FFW Ried is a classic Bavarian club festival: a ceremonial act with the community's dignitaries, performances by neighboring fire brigades, a music band, and a social gathering with Bavarian festival catering.

Parish Festival on Sunday

A special feature of the weekend: On Sunday, June 14, the parish festival of the Ried parish will also take place at the Steberhalle. Both events complement each other — those who celebrate the fire brigade on Saturday can stay for mass and a relaxed brunch on Sunday. Thus, two occasions create a joint festival weekend for the Ried village community.