Kerwa Wiesenthau

The Kerwa of the Wiesn'tharer Bamschubser

The Kerwa Wiesenthau is one of the most vibrant Franconian Kirchweihen (church festivals) in the Forchheim district. It is traditionally celebrated on the fourth weekend in September — from Friday to Tuesday — on the village festival grounds. The organizers are the Wiesn'tharer Bamschubser, the Kerwasburschen (festival lads) of Wiesenthau, who founded their association in 2000 and have stood for the unbroken tradition ever since.

Five Days of Franconian Festival Culture

The Kerwa begins on Friday at 4:00 PM with the traditional wreath and flag binding in the Burschenheim (clubhouse). On Saturday morning, the lads head out to fetch the Kerwabaum (festival tree) from the forest — a tall, decorated fir tree that is erected in the afternoon with muscle power and accompanied by the Regnitzer Musikanten on the festival grounds. Sunday features the Kerwa church service, a morning pint (Frühschoppen), and the large festival tent with brass music and Franconian delicacies.

Highlight: Betzenaustanzen on Kerwa Monday

The actual highlight of the Wiesenthau Kerwa is the Betzenaustanzen on Monday evening: young men and women (Burschen und Madli) dance in Franconian costume to the music of the Blaskapelle Wiesenthau/Schlaifhausen around the Kerwabaum. The winning couple of the dance receives the traditional Betzen, a decorated ram. Children can also participate in the dance — one of the most beautiful scenes of the festival. On Tuesday evening at 6:00 PM, the Kerwa concludes with the traditional Kerwabeerdigung (Kerwa burial): the festival is symbolically 'buried' until it is resurrected the following year.

A Small Community, Great Tradition

Wiesenthau has only about 1,100 inhabitants but is located in the heart of the Upper Franconia enjoyment region — between Forchheim, Ebermannstadt, and the Franconian Switzerland. Despite its size, Wiesenthau is one of those communities where Franconian Kirchweih culture is lived particularly intensely. The Bamschubser are known far beyond Wiesenthau — also thanks to their website (bamschubser.de), where they maintain their own gallery of "Betzen winners.".

What characterizes this Kerwa?

• Franconian traditional costumes of the Bamschubser and Kerwamadli (festival girls)
• Living tradition for centuries, preserved by a young men's association (founded 2000)
• Live music by the Regnitzer Musikanten and the Blaskapelle Wiesenthau/Schlaifhausen
• Beer, snacks, and Franconian delicacies in the festival tent
• Family atmosphere, far from mass tourism