Eppelheimer Kerwe with Street Festival

Kerwe with Street Festival — Not a Classic Volksfest

The Eppelheimer Kerwe is a fixture on the Palatinate festival calendar in the Rhein-Neckar district (state of Baden-Württemberg). Instead of a contained festival site, the event uses the entire city center: Amusement rides are located on the main street, club stands line the town hall square, and stages occupy smaller squares around the Schmittberg Pharmacy and the town hall. This makes the Kerwe less of a tourist magnet and more of a genuine town festival — the people of Eppelheim come, meet, and stay.

Clubs as Pillars

What makes the Eppelheimer Kerwe special: The clubs — from the volunteer fire department and sports clubs to traditional costume and music associations — exclusively provide the catering. This keeps prices affordable and ensures proceeds stay within the town. If you visit several stands, you can eat sausages and fries at the sports club, drink wine at the local heritage club, and get cake from the Catholic Women's Association — a Kerwe tradition that is particularly strong in the Palatinate.

Eppelheim — Suburb with its Own Identity

Eppelheim, with a population of just over 15,000, is located immediately west of Heidelberg in the Rhein-Neckar district. Despite its proximity to the major city, the municipality has a distinct identity of its own — its own Kerwe is part of that. The tradition dates back to the church's dedication festival (Kirchweihfest), but over time it has been transformed into a general town festival. Today, the Kerwe is the second major town event alongside the summer festival.

Sunday Opening Hours

The Kerwe Sunday usually coincides with a Sunday when shops are open — Eppelheim's businesses open in the afternoon, making the festival a pleasant shopping stroll. Children will find carousels, a Ferris wheel, and small stalls, while adults can enjoy the stage concerts and the catering provided by the clubs.