Kärwa Schwand

Schwand — historic heart of the market community Schwanstetten

The market community of Schwanstetten in the Roth district was formed in 1972 from the two old villages of Schwand and Leerstetten. The old town of Schwand is the medieval core of this double community — a small, compact area with a parish church, Kärwa square, and old farmhouses. The Kärwa Schwand is the central Volksfest (folk festival) of the market community, traditionally known as 'Schwander Kärwa'.

Four days of Kärwa tradition

The Schwander Kärwa is celebrated over four days on the second August weekend — in 2026, this means from August 7th to 10th. The focus is on the festival tent on the Kärwa square and all the activity in the old town. The festivities begin with a parade on Friday evening.

What makes the Schwander Kärwa special

• Parade on Friday evening — at 7 PM, the parade forms in the old town, with brass bands, floats, associations in traditional costume, and the festival host family. Opening of the Kärwa with a beer tapping ceremony in the festival tent.
• Dance evenings on Saturday and Sunday — festival tent with a party band or dance orchestra.
• Festive church service on Sunday — in the Schwand parish church.
• Kerwa-Reihen — on Sunday, the Kärwa couples dance around the Kärwa tree, performed by the young men and women of the village in traditional costume.
• Carousels and stalls — for families, on the festival grounds in the old town.
• Kärwa Monday — a quieter day with inn operations and a relaxed end to the festival.

Embedded in the dense festival calendar

Middle Franconia, along with the Roth district, maintains one of the densest Kärwa calendars in Southern Germany. Between Wendelstein, Schwabach, Roth, Hilpoltstein, and Allersberg, there is a Kärwa almost every weekend between June and October. The Schwander Kärwa is one of the fixed dates in August, nestled between the Allersberg Stadtkerwa in mid-July and Greding or Heideck in September.