Herbstkirchweih Sparneck

Sparneck in the Fichtelgebirge

The market town of Sparneck, with its approximately 1,300 inhabitants, is located in the northern Fichtelgebirge, in the Hof district of Upper Franconia. The municipality is part of the Sparneck administrative district together with Weißdorf and Zell im Fichtelgebirge. Its location between the mountains of Großer Waldstein and the valley of the Sächsische Saale makes the town touristically interesting, even though the autumn Kirchweih is a classic village festival and not a tourist festival.

Michaelis and Kirchweih

Michaelis Day on September 29 is one of the traditional festival days of the Catholic and Protestant church year. Especially in the predominantly Protestant regions of Upper Franconia—Sparneck is an Evangelical Lutheran parish—the Michaelis Kirchweih is an important autumn date. The Sparneck autumn Kirchweih is traditionally celebrated on the Sunday BEFORE Michaelis, so the market takes place on the last Sunday in September.

Market Square Festival and Craft Market

On the festival day, numerous market vendors and craftspeople set up their stalls on Sparneck's market square. The offerings range from regional crafts, sweets, and clothing to specialties such as homemade bratwurst, gingerbread, and mulled wine, which is particularly welcome in cool autumn weather. Local clubs take care of catering and service; the market town of Sparneck coordinates the event.

Folk Festival with History

Kirchweih festivals have a centuries-old tradition in the Fichtelgebirge. They originally marked the consecration of the parish church; in Sparneck, this date was moved to the Sunday before Michaelis—during the harvest festival season, the market also offered an opportunity to sell regional products and celebrate the harvest year. To this day, the Sparneck autumn Kirchweih is an important identity-forming festival in the annual event calendar.