Etzelwanger Kirwa

Oberpfalz Kirwa Tradition

The Etzelwanger Kirwa – simply called Kirwa in the Oberpfalz dialect (instead of the Franconian Kerwa or Upper Bavarian Kirta) – is the annual village Kirchweih (church consecration festival) of the municipality of Etzelwang. Etzelwang is located in the southern Amberg-Sulzbach district, geographically at the transition between the Franconian Jura and the Bavarian Jura. The Kirwa follows the classic Oberpfalz pattern with a Kirwabaum, festival tent, dance band, and an elected Kirwa couple.

Kirwaverein Etzelwang – 40 Years of Tradition

The organizer is the Kirwaverein Etzelwang e.V., founded in the mid-1980s, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2025. The association unites the Kirwaburschen and Kirwamadla – young adults of the village who organize the festival, wear traditional costumes, and erect the Kirwabaum. The association's chairman is Timo Bielesch.

Festival Grounds at the Outdoor Pool as Kirwa Area

The venue is the festival grounds at the Etzelwang outdoor swimming pool, newly designed and since then the official Kirwa area of the association. The beer tent accommodates several hundred people; surrounding it are the stage for the dance band, the Kirwabaum site, food stalls, and small carousels.

Program of the Oberpfalz Kirwa

The multi-day program follows a fixed choreography: Friday beer tapping in the evening with the first party band; Saturday in the afternoon, a parade through the village, around 3 PM the traditional Kirwabaum erection using muscle power and support poles, in the evening dance music; Sunday is the main Kirwa day with a festive church service, morning pint, and at 5 PM the central ritual: »Betz austanzen« (dancing the 'Betz' – a decorative pole) – the eleven to twelve Kirwa couples dance rhythmically around the tree until the music suddenly stops, and the couple holding the ribbon in their hand is crowned the Kirwa Couple of the Year. Monday is the closing day with Auskirwa and final concerts.

Etzelwang – Municipality in the Franconian Jura

Etzelwang has about 1,500 inhabitants and is picturesquely located in a valley basin of the southern Franconian Jura, framed by wooded hills. Unlike the Franconian town-part Kirwas around Nuremberg, the Etzelwanger Kirwa is a true village Kirwa with a family atmosphere – those who come know someone who knows someone. Visitors from outside are welcome, the number is manageable, and the atmosphere is intimate.