Johannis-Kirchweih Nürnberg

St. Johannis – Nuremberg's Most Characteristic District

St. Johannis is located north of Nuremberg's Old Town, across the Pegnitz river. With its Wilhelminian-era houses, the historic Johannis Cemetery (burial place of Albrecht Dürer and Veit Stoß), and its vibrant neighbourhood life, the district is considered one of Nuremberg's most characteristic. The Friedenskirche (Church of Peace) on Palmplatz – a Neo-Gothic building from 1882 – is its architectural centrepiece.

A Neighbourhood Kirchweih Without a Kirwabaum

Unlike the rural Kirchweihen of Franconia, the Johannis-Kirchweih does not have a Kirwabaum (Maypole) or a Kirwagesellschaft (festival society). Instead, the festival is jointly organised by showmen, the parish of Friedenskirche, and the St. Johannis Citizens' Association. The Nuremberg City Property Management Office awards the pitches. The result is a special mix of a classic neighbourhood folk festival and a local cultural programme.

Amusement Park on Palmplatz

On Palmplatz – the central square of St. Johannis – the classic showman attractions are set up during the Kirchweih: Ferris wheel, dodgems, children's carousel, shooting gallery, crêpe stands, bratwurst stands, gingerbread stands, sweet shops. The atmosphere is family-friendly and unpretentious – a real neighbourhood Kirchweih for the residents and their guests.

FriedensKinderKirche in the Dodgems

An extraordinary tradition: the FriedensKinderKirche of the Protestant Friedenskirche takes place during the Kirchweih not in the church itself, but in the dodgems on the festival grounds. Children can experience the service in an unusual environment – a format that charmingly stages the connection between church and folk festival.

Accompanying Programme by the Citizens' Association

The St. Johannis Citizens' Association complements the Kirchweih with a cultural accompanying programme: guided tours of the historic Johannis Cemetery and the district, exhibitions in the community centre, concerts in the Friedenskirche, a special event in the Baroque garden at Johannisstraße 13. This makes the neighbourhood Kirchweih more than just an amusement park weekend.

Kirchweih Tradition in Nuremberg

Nuremberg has a long tradition of neighbourhood Kirchweihen: Annakirchweih (summer weeks), Wenzelskirchweih, Erlenstegener Kirchweih, Bratwurstherzla-Kirchweih, and many others. Throughout the year, they bring the folk festival spirit to the neighbourhoods in different parts of the city. The Johannis-Kirchweih is one of the most important of these neighbourhood Kirchweihen.

A Festival for the Neighbourhood

What makes the Johannis-Kirchweih special: It is not a tourist spectacle, but an event by and for the neighbourhood. Those who live here come every year; those who visit as guests will find an authentic neighbourhood atmosphere that is second to none in Nuremberg.