Heinrichser Kirmes Suhl
Four-day tent festival with parade and Gögerschlag — Tradition in the Suhl district of Heinrichs
About Heinrichser Kirmes
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Heinrichser Kirmes al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
A Tradition Since 1503
The Heinrichser Kirmes dates back to the year 1503, when the consecration of the Heinrichs church to St. Ulrich was first documented. For over five hundred years, the festival has been celebrated in the Suhl suburb of Heinrichs — today supported by the Heinrichser Burschenschaft e.V., an association of young men (and for some years now, women) who pass on the tradition from generation to generation. Unlike the suburban Kirmes festivals of many Thuringian towns, Heinrichs has preserved its own character: tent festival, parade, Sunday traditions — a must-attend event in the Suhl calendar.
Four Days of Festival Tent and Tradition
The Kirmes traditionally runs from Thursday to Sunday. Thursday evening opens with the «Oldie Dance Evening» with dance music from the 70s to 90s. Friday is dedicated to the parade of the Burschen through the district streets — led by a brass band, followed by the dance evening in the festival tent. On Saturday morning at 8:00 AM, the Burschen wake up the district with serenades and collect donations for the association's work in wooden mugs, the so-called «Löbbe». In the afternoon, there's a children's program with games and competitions, and in the evening, there's dancing in the festival tent again.
Sunday — Parade and Gögerschlag
Sunday is the highlight of the Kirmes. From the morning onwards, the district gathers for «Hüt's on Brüh», a traditional stew. At 2:30 PM, the grand parade starts with over twenty decorated floats, friendly associations, the Suhl-Heinrichs primary school, and music bands from the region — winding through the district to the festival grounds. Immediately following is the famous Gögerschlag: a pre-drawn Burschenschaft member attempts to hit a buried rooster's head with a flail while blindfolded. For ethical reasons, a live rooster is no longer used — the tradition is preserved. Whoever hits it must buy a round for the Burschenschaft. Admission to the festival tent is free on Sunday.
Heinrichs — Suhl Suburb in the Thuringian Forest
The district of Heinrichs lies on the southern edge of the city of Suhl in the state of Thuringia, in the middle of the Thuringian Forest Nature Park. Until its incorporation in 1936, Heinrichs was an independent municipality; today, the district retains its rural character with a strong sense of tradition, thanks in part to associations like the Heinrichser Burschenschaft. Those extending their festival weekend will find hiking opportunities all around to the Großer Beerberg, the Rennsteig, and the Vesser-Schwarza Valley — Thuringian Forest classics right on their doorstep.
Heinrichser Kirmes — edition 2026
Heinrichser Kirmes 2026 — Schedule
The Burschenschaft Heinrichs is hosting the 2026 Kirmes as every year in the festival tent. The program follows the tried and tested schedule: Opening with the Oldie Dance on Thursday, parade of the Burschen on Friday, tradition Saturday with «Löbbe-Sammeln» and children's afternoon, and on Sunday the grand parade with Gögerschlag.
Throughout the weekend, classic Kirmes foods (bratwurst, schnitzel, sweets) and a carousel area for families will be available. Up-to-date program information and tickets are available from the Heinrichser Burschenschaft e.V. — the association's website heinrichser-burschenschaft.de will be updated in the weeks before the festival.
Programme Heinrichser Kirmes 2026
Heinrichser Kirmes 2026 — Program Overview
Thursday, September 17, 2026 — Opening
- From 7:00 PM — Oldie Dance Evening in the festival tent (music from the 70s to 90s)
Friday, September 18, 2026 — Parade of the Burschen
- Evening — Parade of the Heinrichser Burschenschaft through the district streets, led by a brass band
- From 8:00 PM — Dance evening in the festival tent
Saturday, September 19, 2026 — Tradition Day
- ⭐ 8:00 AM — Wake-up serenade and «Löbbe-Sammeln» through the district streets
- Afternoon — Children's and Family Program with competitions and games
- From 8:00 PM — Dancing in the festival tent
⭐ Sunday, September 20, 2026 — Highlight (Free Admission)
- From morning — «Hüt's on Brüh» (traditional stew) and morning pint
- 2:30 PM — Grand Parade with decorated floats, friendly associations, the Suhl-Heinrichs primary school, and music bands
- Immediately after — Gögerschlag (rooster head striking tradition) on the festival grounds
- Winding down in the festival tent
Updated performance times and artist information in the weeks before the festival on heinrichser-burschenschaft.de and on the association's Facebook page.
Highlights Heinrichser Kirmes 2026
- Tradition dating back to 1503 — Consecration of St. Ulrich
- Grand parade Sunday 2:30 PM
- Gögerschlag (rooster head striking) afterwards
- Wake-up serenade and Löbbe-Sammeln Saturday 8:00 AM
- Free admission on Sunday
- Oldie Dance Thursday and dance evenings Friday/Saturday
- Organizer: Heinrichser Burschenschaft e.V.
Prices Heinrichser Kirmes 2026
Day tickets for the evening events are available from the Heinrichser Burschenschaft e.V. (advance booking in Heinrichs and at the box office). On Sunday, September 20, 2026, admission is free — the parade and Gögerschlag are publicly accessible. Weekend passes subject to availability.
Practical information — Heinrichser Kirmes
Date 2026
Thursday, September 17 to Sunday, September 20, 2026 (third weekend in September). Parade Sunday, September 20, starting at 2:30 PM, Gögerschlag immediately after.
Venue
Festival grounds and tent in the Suhl district of Heinrichs. Directions and exact location will be announced by the Heinrichser Burschenschaft in good time.
Admission
Day tickets and weekend tickets for the evening events are available from the Heinrichser Burschenschaft e.V. (advance booking and box office). Free admission on Sunday — parade and Gögerschlag are publicly accessible.
Getting There
By train: ICE to Suhl-Mäbendorf or Suhl Hauptbahnhof, then city bus to Heinrichs (10 min). By car: A71 exit Suhl/Zella-Mehlis, follow signs for Heinrichs.
Accommodation
Hotels and guesthouses in Suhl and the surrounding area. Can be combined with a stay in the Thuringian Forest (Rennsteig, Großer Beerberg).
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Heinrichser Kirmes al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Heinrichser Kirmes
Festzelt und Festplatz Suhl-Heinrichs
Heinrichs, 98529 Suhl