24th Dorfweihnacht Reichenbach

Reichenbach im Frankenwald

Reichenbach is a small village in the northern Frankenwald, part of the municipality of Steinwiesen in the district of Kronach. With just under 200 inhabitants directly on the border with Thuringia, it is one of those quiet Frankenwald hamlets where clubs stick together all year round — and where the Original Reichenbacher Blasmusik has been one of the central cultural pillars for more than a quarter of a century.

The Original Reichenbacher Blasmusik

The Original Reichenbacher Blasmusik e.V. is a traditional brass band that cultivates the Frankenwald sound — marches, polkas, waltzes, and classic Bohemian brass music with Franconian-Thuringian accents. Throughout the year, the band tours through Frankenwald, Vogtland, and Saxony with concerts in inns, marquees, and Advent markets.

The Dorfweihnacht — a hallmark since 2003

The Dorfweihnacht is the club's central own event, held on the first Saturday of Advent. The 24th edition will take place in 2026 — a clear indication of how deeply the format is anchored in village life. Unlike the large Christmas markets in the cities, the Reichenbach Dorfweihnacht is a down-to-earth three-hour event that begins at dusk: brass sounds from the Original Reichenbacher open the evening, accompanied by mulled wine, bratwurst over an open fire, gingerbread, and roasted almonds.

What makes the Dorfweihnacht special

• Authentic village atmosphere — no tourist crowds, no large commercial market format. Here you meet the club members, their families, and neighbours from the surrounding Frankenwald hamlets of Tschirn, Nordhalben, and Wallenfels.
• Original Reichenbacher Blasmusik live — the band doesn't play from speakers but performs live outdoors, often on a trailer in front of the club house.
• Frankenwald specialties — bratwurst from the local butcher, mulled wine from regional wines, homemade cookies from the club's women.
• Homeland preservation without kitsch — an honest event that doesn't stage the Advent feeling but lives it.

In the Frankenwald Advent

The Reichenbach Dorfweihnacht is part of the dense Advent calendar in the Frankenwald, with Advent markets in Kronach (large and well-attended), Steinwiesen, Tschirn, and many other villages. It is the quiet, honest version — an hour's drive from the hustle and bustle of the big markets, but with a genuine connection between the village, the club, and the audience.