Kärwa Mimberg

Last Kirchweih of the Season

Burgthann in the Nürnberger Land district is a large Franconian municipality with seven districts, each celebrating its own Kirchweih – from June (Burgthann) to the end of August (Mimberg). This concentrated Kirchweih tradition is a Franconian specialty that makes every summer weekend a celebration. The Kärwa Mimberg concludes the season and therefore holds a special significance.

The Kärwaboum and -Madla

The custodians of the Mimberg Kärwa are the Kärwaboum (young men) and Kärwamadla (young women) – youth groups who have preserved this custom for generations. They organize the fetching of the Kärwabaum from the forest, its festive erection on the village square, the dancing around the tree, and the symbolic "burial of the Kärwa" at the end of the festival.

The Kärwabaum

The centerpiece is the Kärwabaum: a tall spruce or fir tree, decorated with colorful ribbons and the traditional wreath at the top. The Kärwaboum fetch it from the forest on Friday, and on Saturday morning it is erected by hand on the village square – without a crane, only with props and muscle power. The Kärwabaum is danced around, sung to, and celebrated for three days until it is taken down again on the final day.

Program Structure

The Kärwa Mimberg classically spans three days: Friday kicks off with an opening event in the festival tent, tapping of the keg by the mayor around 7 p.m., and live music late into the night. Saturday is the highlight: erecting the Kärwabaum in the morning, Kärwa parade, and festival tent music in the evening. Sunday features a festival church service in the tent, a Frühschoppen (morning pint), more live music, and the symbolic burial of the Kärwa towards the evening.

Festival Tent and Franconian Cuisine

In the festival tent, hosts serve Franconian specialties: sausages from a charcoal grill, Schäufele (pork shoulder), Pressack salad, Brotzeit platters, candied almonds, and fish specialties. This is accompanied by draft beer and, in recent years, increasingly by Franconian wines. A children's carousel and a shooting gallery are available for the youngest visitors.

Burgthann and the Nürnberger Land

Burgthann is located 25 km southeast of Nuremberg, on the edge of the Hersbrucker Schweiz and the Fränkische Alb. The municipality is a popular excursion destination with the historic Burgthann castle, the Mainfels stream, and hiking trails. Mimberg, one of its districts, is small but lively – the Kärwa attracts guests from all over the region.