155 Years Volunteer Fire Brigade Heidenheim

FFW Heidenheim since 1871

The Volunteer Fire Brigade Markt Heidenheim was founded in 1871 – making it one of the oldest volunteer fire brigades in Middle Franconia. 155 years of club history is a remarkable tradition in a small community. In 2026, the anniversary will be celebrated with a four-day festival weekend.

Four Festival Days May 14–17, 2026

The program follows the classic fire brigade festival dramaturgy of the region:

• Thursday, May 14, 2026: Festival opening with beer tapping and evening celebration (Vigil of Ascension Day, Father's Day atmosphere)
• Friday, May 15, 2026: Festival operation with live music in the festival tent, evening of entertainment
• Saturday, May 16, 2026: Festival service, evening celebration with a grand program
• Sunday, May 17, 2026: Grand parade with friendly fire brigades and associations through Markt Heidenheim, morning pint, exhibition of fire brigade technology, family program

Ascension Day falls on May 14, 2026 – so the festival opening benefits from a long weekend.

Markt Heidenheim in the Hahnenkamm

Heidenheim is a market town with around 2,000 inhabitants in the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district, located at the foot of the Hahnenkamm in Middle Franconia. The market town is characterized by the landscape of the Altmühltal and the foothills of the Swabian Jura; the community lives from agriculture, tourism, and an active club structure. The FFW Heidenheim is one of the central clubs in market life.

District Fire Brigade Association Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen

The FFW Heidenheim is part of the District Fire Brigade Association Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen. As everywhere in Bavaria, firefighting in rural areas is mainly carried out by volunteer brigades – a system that would not function without voluntary commitment and strong club structures. The anniversary festivals of the individual brigades are therefore not only club festivals but also a commitment to this system.