155th Anniversary Founding Festival of the Ettmannsdorf Volunteer Fire Brigade

155 Years of Volunteer Fire Protection

The Ettmannsdorf Volunteer Fire Brigade was founded in 1871, making it one of the oldest brigades in the 'Große Kreisstadt' (large district town) of Schwandorf. In 2026, it will celebrate its 155th anniversary with a three-day festival from July 3rd to 5th. The patron is Mayor Andreas Feller. The festival meadow in front of the dog park in the Ettmannsdorf district will be the focal point of the celebrations.

Festival Marquee, Ceremony, and Procession

Fire brigade anniversaries in Bavaria follow a set schedule: a ceremony in the festival marquee on the Friday – usually with an opening speech, greetings from the district councilor and district administrator, and the awarding of honors to deserving active members. Saturday is all about sociability, the festival marquee, music, and meeting with neighboring brigades. The highlight is usually the grand procession on Sunday morning, where brigades from the Schwandorf district and beyond march through the district in full uniform.

Ettmannsdorf and Schwandorf

Ettmannsdorf is one of the largest districts of the 'Große Kreisstadt' (large district town) Schwandorf, in the state of Bavaria, administrative region of Upper Palatinate. Schwandorf as a whole has around 28,000 inhabitants and is an important railway hub between Regensburg, Nuremberg, and Cham. Ettmannsdorf is located west of the town center and has retained a strong district identity – the Volunteer Fire Brigade is a central club offering contributing to this identity.

Why Anniversaries Matter

A 155th fire brigade anniversary is more than just a birthday. It is a collective reminder that fire protection, accident assistance, and disaster relief in Bavaria are predominantly supported by volunteers. Those who attend the festival weekend will see brigade leaders, youth groups, and long-serving members celebrating together – a reminder of the tradition of volunteerism and the self-image of small and medium-sized fire brigades in Bavaria.