Fischbach Kerwe

Multiple Venues as a Kerwe Peculiarity

Unlike most Kerwen, which concentrate on a single festival site, the Fischbach Kerwe is spread across four locations: the classic Kerweplatz with catering and a ring, the sports field with the Kerwe-Spiel, the Bürgercafé for more relaxed hours, and the Klosterhof for program items with historical connections. This spatial distribution is an expression of an active, diverse club culture and turns the Kerwe into a festival that involves the entire village.

Kerwe-Spiel at the Sports Field

A special feature is the Kerwe-Spiel at the sports field – a club tournament or friendly match organized by SV Fischbach, which integrates the sporting club life into the Kerwe. Thus, the sports festival becomes part of the Kirchweih (church consecration festival), and the tradition gains a current, lively dimension.

Straußjugend as the Carrying Group

The Fischbach Straußjugend is the group carrying the Kerwe tradition. In many Palatinate Kerwen, the young, unmarried men and women play a central role in the Kerweredd (Kerwe speech), the Kerwe procession, and the care of the 'Strauß' (the decorated festival tree). In Fischbach, they take on these tasks with great commitment, thus ensuring the tradition is passed on to the next generation.

Kerwe Procession and Kerweredd

The highlight of the Kerwe is Sunday: a musical morning pint, lunch served by the clubs, a Kerwe procession through Fischbach, and the Kerweredd in Palatinate dialect, which humorously addresses the events of the village year. The Kerweredd is the heart of every Palatinate Kerwe and a highlight in Fischbach that locals and guests eagerly anticipate.

Fischbach near Dahn

Fischbach near Dahn is a small community in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Palatinate Forest-North Vosges, nestled among the sandstone rocks of the Wasgau. Despite its size, it maintains an unusually active club culture – the Kerwe is its most visible expression.