150th Anniversary Founding Festival of the Großberghausen Volunteer Fire Brigade

150 Years Volunteer Fire Brigade

The Großberghausen Volunteer Fire Brigade — responsible for Groß- and Kleinberghausen — is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2026. Founded around 1876, the brigade is one of the traditional fire brigades in the Neumarkt district of Upper Palatinate. Großberghausen is a district of Freystadt, a small town in the Jura region in the south of the district. A fire brigade anniversary of this magnitude is far more than just a club festival in rural Bavaria — it is a major social event that involves the entire village community and neighboring towns.

Festival Weekend with Parade

The founding festival follows the proven format of a Bavarian fire brigade anniversary: a three-day festival weekend with a large festival tent, brass music, festivities, and catering. The highlight is traditionally the grand parade on the festival Sunday, where friendly fire brigades, clubs, and music bands from the region march through the town. In the run-up, the traditional "Patenbitten" (request for patronage) took place, where the brigade asked a patron club to take over the sponsorship.

Festweiber and Festival Committee

The festival is prepared and supported by a dedicated festival committee and the "Festweiber" of the Großberghausen Volunteer Fire Brigade, who plan the anniversary for months. Guests are requested to register so that catering and organization can be planned accordingly.

Freystadt in the Neumarkt District

Freystadt is located in the south of the Neumarkt district in Upper Palatinate, characterized by the Jura Rand landscape and the baroque pilgrimage church of Maria Hilf. The founding festival of the Großberghausen Volunteer Fire Brigade can be well combined with a visit to Freystadt's old town or an excursion into the surrounding Neumarkt district.