Franconian Kirchweih with a 26-meter Kerwabaum in the violin-making community
The Bubenreuther Kerwa is the annual Kirchweih of the municipality of Bubenreuth in the Erlangen-Höchstadt district (Middle Franconia, Bavaria). It stands in the lively tradition of the Franconian Kerwa and is voluntarily organized by the Kerwasburschen and Kerwamadli. 'Kerwasau is not a profession, but a calling' – this sentence sums up the dedication of the young people who uphold the customs.
The central event is the raising of the tree. Early in the morning, the 'Baam' is fetched from the forest, decorated with colorful ribbons, and the Kerwasburschen march through the village with drums and trumpets to pick up the Madli. In the afternoon, the young men and members of the Bubenruthia fraternity raise the approximately 26-meter-long Kerwabaum using spades, poles, and ladders – on the command of the Oberkerwabuschen, accompanied by music and singing. The communal raising is both a feat of strength and the highlight.
Bubenreuth is known beyond the region as a center for violin making – a heritage established after 1945 by instrument makers who moved from Schönbach in Bohemia. This musical heritage resonates during the Kerwa, for example, when the music band plays its instruments. The festival is closely linked to the old village center, the local inns, and the fraternity.
The Kerwa shapes village life for several days: festival activities with beer, Franconian cuisine, and music, a day dedicated to raising the tree, and finally, the traditional 'Kerwa-Beerdigen' (Kerwa burial). The mayor and the community are closely involved – a festival connecting generations that visibly demonstrates the cohesion in the village.
The Bubenreuther Kerwa 2026 will take place from Friday, June 26, to Monday, June 29, 2026, in the center of Bubenreuth. The established schedule includes the beer tapping and the start of the festival activities, the big Kerwa day with the tree raising, and finally, the traditional Kerwa burial.
During the tree raising, the Kerwasburschen fetch the decorated 'Baam' from the forest early in the morning, march through the village with drums and trumpets, and in the afternoon, manually raise the approximately 26-meter-long Kerwabaum. The festival activities with festival beer, Franconian delicacies, and music accompany the days; on June 28, a club evening at the Mörsbergei beer garden is announced, among other things. The detailed daily program will be announced by the Kerwasburschen Bubenreuth; it was not yet fully available at the time of research.
June 26–29, 2026, Bubenreuth village center. The traditional Kerwa schedule:
Specific times and music groups for 2026 will be announced by the Kerwasburschen Bubenreuth via the municipality; they were not yet fully available at the time of research.
Admission is free. Costs are incurred for festival beer, food, and drinks at the festival grounds.
Bubenreuth is located directly north of Erlangen in the Erlangen-Höchstadt district. By train via the Bubenreuth stop (Nuremberg–Bamberg line), from there a few minutes to the village center. By car via the A73 (exit Erlangen-Nord / Bubenreuth).
Entry to the festival grounds and the tree-raising is free; payment is for food, drinks, and festival beer.
Municipality of Bubenreuth, Tel. +49 9131 8839-0. Organization by the Kerwasburschen Bubenreuth.
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