Erntedankfest Birrenbachshöhe

Erntedankfest Birrenbachshöhe 2026 — Four Days of Much Tradition

From August 28 to 31, 2026, the district of Birrenbachshöhe in the municipality of Much will once again be a spectacle of festive splendor. The Ernteverein Wohlfarth e.V. is hosting the traditional Erntedankfest (Harvest Festival) — one of the most significant village and folk customs festivals in the southern Bergisches Land region. Three generations of Much residents will celebrate the harvest thanksgiving together, honor the Harvest Couple of the year, and enjoy four days of marquee atmosphere.

Program 2026 — Day by Day

Friday, August 28, 2026 — Alm-Party

• From 9 PM: Alm-Party in the marquee with DJ and dancing
• Dirndl and Lederhosen explicitly encouraged
• Marquee opening of the Harvest Festival week

Saturday, August 29, 2026 — Ceremonial Reception and New Harvest Couple

• 7:00 PM: Ecumenical Thanksgiving service
• 8:00 PM: Ceremonial reception in the marquee with the proclamation of the new Harvest Couple 2026/27
• Performances by local music groups and choirs
• Dance evening with a live band

Sunday, August 30, 2026 — Grand Harvest Parade and Choir Concert

• 1:00 PM: Grand Harvest Parade begins to pick up the Harvest Couple
• From 3:00 PM: Coffee and cake in the marquee
• Children's program and small fair around the marquee
• Choir concert featuring choirs from southern Much and anniversary music
• Dance evening with live music

Monday, August 31, 2026 — Harvest Parade through the Fields and Closing Ball

• Morning: Harvest parade through the fields around Birrenbachshöhe — symbolic bringing home of the harvest
• Afternoon: Coffee reception at the former Harvest Couple's home
• 8:00 PM: Coronation and Closing Ball in the marquee — ceremonial handover of the crown to the new Harvest Couple, concluding the festive night

The Harvest Couple — The Heart of Tradition

Each year, the Ernteverein proclaims a new Harvest Couple who will represent the folk tradition for one year. The couple is symbolically crowned with the Harvest Crown, made from ears of grain, flowers, and colorful ribbons. Throughout the year, the Harvest Couple participates in festivals of other associations and neighboring communities, thus representing the continuity of Much's folk customs.

Ernteverein Wohlfarth e.V. — The Organizers

The Ernteverein Wohlfarth e.V. is a classic village folk customs association in the southern part of the Much municipality. It has preserved the Erntedankfest for generations and is deeply rooted in Much's community life. Membership is open to anyone who wishes to support the tradition. Contact: 0171/4616963.

Birrenbachshöhe and Much — Southern Bergisches Land

The municipality of Much, with around 14,000 inhabitants, is located in the Rhein-Sieg district, in the southern part of the Bergisches Land region. It is a forested area with numerous hamlets and villages, traversed by the Bröltal valley and the Aggertalsperre reservoir. Birrenbachshöhe is one of the smaller districts in southern Much, situated between Marienfeld and Wohlfarth. The village is nestled amidst meadows and fields — the rural surroundings make the harvest parade particularly atmospheric, as the routes actually pass by the harvested fields.