150 Years Volunteer Fire Brigade Stappenbach

A Fire Brigade Tradition in the Steigerwald

The Volunteer Fire Brigade Stappenbach was founded in 1876 and is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2026 with a four-day festival weekend around May 1st. Stappenbach is a district of the market town of Burgebrach in the Bamberg district and is scenically located in the Franconian Steigerwald. As in many villages in Upper Franconia, the fire brigade is not only a fire protection organization but also a pillar of the village community. District Administrator Johannes Maciejonczyk is the patron of the anniversary.

Festival Ceremony, Frankenräuber, and Kesselfleischessen

The opening on Thursday, April 30, 2026, will feature the festival ceremony on the eve of the May Day holiday and a concert by the Bavarian-Franconian cult band »Frankenräuber«, whose trademark is over 20 different instruments and humorous interludes. On Friday, May 1st, the festival tent opens at 2:30 PM for a traditional coffee and cake reception, followed by the legendary Kesselfleischessen in Franconia at 5 PM. In the evening, the rock band »Justice« takes the stage with hard riffs and metal hits.

Heldenhaft, Parade, and Sunday Service

On Saturday, May 2nd, the party band »Heldenhaft« will perform on their 2026 tour – a highlight for young festival-goers from the Steigerwald and the Bamberg region. Sunday, May 3rd, is the actual festival Sunday: 9 AM festive church service, followed by a Franconian lunch in the festival tent, and at 1:30 PM, the assembly for the grand parade between the Don-Bosco School and the festival grounds. Over 54 clubs, fire brigades, music bands, and sports groups from the Bamberg district, the Steigerwald, and friendly regions have registered.

Family Festival with Carousel, Bouncy Castle, and Brass Music

Around the festival tent, a carousel, bouncy castle, and other children's attractions will provide a Volksfest atmosphere. Several Franconian brass bands will play in the festival tent during the day. The Bau-Hartmann grounds offer ample space for the expected crowds from the Steigerwald foothills; parking spaces are signposted.

Stappenbach – A Steigerwald Village with a Long History

Stappenbach has around 600 inhabitants and has belonged to the market town of Burgebrach since 1972. The Catholic parish church of St. Johannes der Täufer shapes the village's appearance. The festival weekend transforms the quiet village into a focal point of Franconian club culture – and underscores how vibrant the fire brigade tradition in Upper Franconia remains.