Gerschummer Kirb

The Kirb Lives On

"Tradition lives on" — this is how the municipality of Gersheim has advertised its Gerschummer Kirb for years, and they are right. While church fairs are quietly disappearing elsewhere, Gersheim not only keeps its own alive but also fills it with new content every year. In the main town of the Bliesgau municipality of Gersheim — in the Saarpfalz district, right on the French border — local associations and residents gather at the end of September for three days of Volksfest (folk festival).

Festival Grounds in the Village Center

The heart of the event is the Gersheim Cultural Center and the adjacent former sports field. This is where the Gersheim Music Association sets up its stage, and where the associations serve goulash soup, Schwenker, bratwurst, coffee, and cake. Tables are set up under pavilions and in the open air — typical Kirb atmosphere.

Club Life in Four Acts

The program has followed a proven pattern for years. Friday evening: Disco organized by the youth club on the former sports field — the kick-off for the younger crowd. Saturday: Football matches featuring local and neighboring teams, a classic village tournament. Sunday morning: Frühschoppen concert with the Gersheim Music Association around the cultural center, followed by the official start of the festival at 11 AM. Sunday afternoon and evening: Festival winding down with live music, coffee and cake, and a festive folk atmosphere.

Bliesgau — People and Biosphere

Gersheim is located in the heart of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Bliesgau. This landscape of scattered orchards, beech forests, and dry grasslands is one of the most biodiverse regions in Germany — and its residents strongly identify with it. At the Kirb, regional products are therefore also in focus: Bliesgau Lyoner sausage, regional honey, fruit juice from local orchards, beer from Saarland breweries.

France Just Next Door

The location on the German-French border (Sarreguemines is a 15-minute drive away) gives the Kirb a charming dual identity. French visitors come regularly, and some associations maintain partnerships with the Pays de Bitche. A typical Saarland border festival where Kirb tradition and everyday European neighborliness intertwine.