Creußener Gregorifest

A Festival from the Middle Ages

The history of the Creußener Gregorifest dates far back into the Middle Ages. According to tradition, Pope Gregory IV is said to have founded the festival in the year 830 as a school festival – in honor of Saint Gregory, the patron saint of students. It has been celebrated in Creußen since the 17th century.

Every Two Years

The Gregorifest takes place every two years, on the last weekend before the start of the Bavarian school holidays. The town of Creußen is the organizer, shaping the festival as a multi-generational community event. For four days, the old town around the market square is dedicated to historical customs.

The Children's Parade

The highlight on Saturday is the festive children's parade, which starts around 1:30 PM at the town hall. The girls carry flower arches, and the other children carry flags – a colorful spectacle that keeps the centuries-old tradition of the school festival alive.

Rooster Strike and Traditional Games

Sunday brings the Rooster Strike (Hahnenschlag): Blindfolded, participants try to smash a clay pot with a birch stick to win a rooster – an ancient custom. Traditional games like sausage snapping, sack racing, and egg and spoon race also delight children and adults alike.

Creußen in the Franconian Jura

Creußen is located in the district of Bayreuth, south of the city of Wagner, at the transition to the Franconian Jura. The historic town is also known for its stoneware jugs. The Gregorifest is its most important traditional event and attracts visitors from all over Upper Franconia every two years.