Annweiler Wildsaukerwe (Gräfenhausen District)

Kerwe Excavation and Kerwerede on Friday

The Wildsaukerwe opens on Friday, August 7, 2026, with two traditional Palatinate Kerwe elements: the Kerwe excavation and the Kerwerede. The Kerwe – symbolized by a straw or wooden figure – is previously buried in a specific location and unearthed on Friday evening. The Kerwerede is a humorous and biting speech by the Kerweborscht (Kerwe speaker), which reviews the past village events and satirizes them with wit.

Palatinate Kerwe Tradition

Following the opening, the Wildsaukerwe adheres to the classic Palatinate Kerwe choreography: dance evening on Saturday, morning pint with brass music on Sunday, concluding with a parade through the village on Sunday. A festival tent, beverage stands, a stage, and food stalls characterize the festival grounds. Palatinate specialties – Saumagen, Bratwurst, Leberknödel, Flammkuchen – complement the gastronomic offerings. Draft beer and wine from Gräfenhausen's Burgundy vintners flow at the beverage stands.

Parade on Sunday

The highlight of the Wildsaukerwe is the parade on Sunday, August 9, 2026, which winds through the village. Floats from local clubs, walking groups, themed floats, and music groups form the procession through Gräfenhausen. Afterwards, the festival concludes in the festival tent with dance music and catering.

Gräfenhausen — Burgundy Village at the Trifels

Gräfenhausen lies at the foot of the Reichsburg Trifels and has consciously positioned itself as a "Burgunderdorf" since the 1980s. The vintner community cultivates primarily Burgundy grape varieties on the surrounding slopes, which find excellent conditions in the protected valley climate. Visitors to the Wildsaukerwe should plan for a climb to the Trifels Castle or a walk through the Burgundy vineyards.