Kerwe Alsenborn

The Kerwe Alsenborn is the annual Kirchweih (church consecration festival) of the Alsenborn district in the Enkenbach-Alsenborn administrative district in the Kaiserslautern district. September 6, 2026 (1st Sunday in September) is the main Kerwe day; the festival weekend extends from Friday to Sunday in the classic Palatinate manner.

Alsenborn in the Twin Municipality

Alsenborn is one of the two namesake halves of the Enkenbach-Alsenborn administrative district, located north of Kaiserslautern on the Sickingen Line. While Enkenbach celebrates its festival with the Kuckuckskerwe in July, Alsenborn traditionally celebrates its own Kerwe on the first Sunday in September. This way, both districts maintain their distinct Kerwe identities.

Palatinate Kerwe Rhythm

The Alsenborn Kerwe follows the classic Palatinate Kerwe rhythm: Opening on Friday evening with barrel tapping, dance evening on Saturday with live music or DJ, Frühschoppen (morning pint) on Sunday morning with brass music, Kerwe parade on Sunday afternoon, and festival conclusion in the evening.

Kerweborsch and Kerwerede

As in every Palatinate village, the Kerweborsch (Kerwe lads), Kerweparrer (Kerwe pastor), and Kerwestrauß (Kerwe bouquet) characterize the festival. The humorous and satirical Kerwerede (Kerwe speech) on Sunday afternoon is the highlight of the Kerwe and addresses village events, local anecdotes, and political events of the year.

Festival Grounds and Club Life

The local clubs – sports club, fire department, music club, and others – provide the festival tent, bar, and catering. The menu features Palatinate classics: Saumagen (stuffed pig's stomach), Bratwurst (fried sausage), Leberknödel (liver dumplings), Schwenkbraten (grilled pork neck), fries, and Schmalzgebäck (fried dough pastries). Draft beer and Palatinate wine accompany the festival weekend.

Meeting Point at the Beginning of September

For many in the region, the Alsenborn Kerwe marks the start of autumn. It is an important social event for the twin municipality, brings back former Alsenborn residents, and strengthens the community spirit among the clubs in the vibrant municipality on the northern edge of the Palatinate Forest.