Eppsteiner Kerwe
Four-day Palatinate Kerwe with parade and fun run in northern Frankenthal
About Eppsteiner Kerwe
The Eppsteiner Kerwe is a traditional Palatinate Kerwe (church consecration festival) in the Eppstein district of Frankenthal. From August 14th to 17th, 2026 — on the third weekend in August — the neighborhood celebrates its biggest local festival for four days with a parade, fun run, church service, marquee catering, and live music. A tradition deeply rooted in the Palatinate, celebrated in Eppstein with the typical mix of conviviality and joie de vivre for the district.
The Kerwe (Kirchweih) traditionally marks the patron saint's day of the parish church and has evolved over the centuries into the main social festival of every Palatinate town.
Palatinate Kerwe Tradition
The Kerwe — short for Kirchweih — is the traditional patron saint's day of a parish church. In the Palatinate, this religious occasion has evolved over the centuries into a four-day folk festival that combines tradition, sociability, catering, and sporting/playful elements. Every town in the Palatinate celebrates its own Kerwe, which is firmly anchored in the annual calendar.
Eppstein — Frankenthal District
Eppstein is a suburb of Frankenthal that has retained its own village identity. The Kerwe is the most important festival of the year here, bringing the entire neighborhood community together. Residents, clubs, and businesses — everyone participates in the preparation and execution.
Four Days of Kerwe Program
The four-day format is classic: Friday evening opening with live music, Saturday main program with performances and catering, Sunday with the church consecration service and Kerwe parade, Monday with a morning pint and the fun run. The festival tent is open throughout the four days, with carousels and game stalls surrounding the festival grounds.
Kerwe Parade
The highlight on Sunday is the Kerwe parade. Floats with local themes, walking groups, dance groups, and music bands parade through the streets of Eppstein. The floats are built over months of club work and humorously address themes from the neighborhood and the city.
Kerwe Fun Run
A sporting element is provided by the Kerwelauf — a fun run completed by amateur athletes and club teams. The route leads through the streets of Eppstein and ends at the festival grounds, where the winners are honored.
Church Consecration Service
Despite all the secular aspects, the religious core of the Kerwe is preserved: a solemn church consecration service on Sunday morning commemorates the occasion of the festival and gathers the parish community.
Eppsteiner Kerwe — edition 2026
The Eppsteiner Kerwe 2026 will be celebrated from August 14th to 17th in the Eppstein district. Four days of Palatinate Kerwe tradition with a parade on Sunday, a fun run on Monday, church consecration service, marquee catering, and live music. A traditional event that mobilizes the entire neighborhood and attracts visitors from the Frankenthal urban area and the Vorderpfalz region.
Eppsteiner Kerwe 2026
The clubs and the Eppstein neighborhood community organize the Kerwe as a collective effort. Float construction, fun run, catering — everything is managed with volunteer commitment. The result is an authentic district festival with a family atmosphere.
Programme Eppsteiner Kerwe 2026
2026 Schedule
The exact program for 2026 will be published by the organizer in early summer. The structure follows the proven key points of previous years:
Friday, August 14, 2026 — Kick-off
- 6:00 PM — Opening of the Kerwe at the festival grounds
- 7:00 PM — Keg tapping
- 8:00 PM — Live music in the festival tent
- until late — Sociable start
Saturday, August 15, 2026
- 11:00 AM — Full operation of the festival grounds
- 2:00 PM — Family program and carousels
- 5:00 PM — Dance performances
- 8:00 PM — Live band in the festival tent
- until late — Dancing
Sunday, August 16, 2026 — Main Kerwe Day
- 10:00 AM — Solemn church consecration service
- 1:00 PM — Kerwe parade through Eppstein
- 3:00 PM — Live music and catering
- 7:00 PM — Festival tent program
- until late — Kerwe winding down
Monday, August 17, 2026 — Closing
- 11:00 AM — Morning pint ('Frühschoppen')
- 2:00 PM — Kerwe fun run
- 5:00 PM — Award ceremony for the fun run
- 8:00 PM — Kerwe closing
Detailed program available on-site and on the neighborhood pages.
Highlights Eppsteiner Kerwe 2026
- Four-day Palatinate Kerwe tradition
- Kerwe parade with floats, dance groups, and music bands
- Kerwe fun run on Monday
- Festival tent with live music
- Church consecration service on Sunday
- Carousels and game stalls for families
- Neighborhood community and club culture
Prices Eppsteiner Kerwe 2026
Entry to the Kerwe is free. Catering in the festival tent at usual festival prices, carousels per ride.
Practical information — Eppsteiner Kerwe
Date
- Friday, August 14th to Monday, August 17th, 2026
- Third weekend in August
Location
- Eppstein district, Frankenthal
- 67227 Frankenthal (Pfalz)
Getting There
- Car: A6/A61 exit Frankenthal, head north towards Eppstein
- Parking at the festival grounds and in designated areas
- City bus: Eppstein stop
Admission
- Free entry
- Catering in the festival tent charged by consumption
Notes
- Family-friendly event
- Registration for the Kerwelauf on-site
- Carousels and game stalls have a fee per ride
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