Kerwe Kottweiler-Schwanden

The Kerwe Kottweiler-Schwanden is the traditional Kirchweih (church consecration festival) of the Palatinate village community Kottweiler-Schwanden in the Verbandsgemeinde Ramstein-Miesenbach in the district of Kaiserslautern. From September 18 to 21, 2026, the four-day Kerwe will be celebrated on the 3rd weekend of September – a central date in the annual calendar of the Westrich community.

Kottweiler-Schwanden in the Westrich

Kottweiler-Schwanden is a double community consisting of the districts of Kottweiler and Schwanden, located in the Westrich landscape between Ramstein and Bruchmühlbach. Like many villages in the region, Kottweiler-Schwanden preserves its communal identity through active club life.

Four-Day Palatinate Kerwe

The Kerwe is celebrated over four days from Friday to Monday: Opening with barrel tapping on Friday evening, festival activities on Saturday with live music or DJ, main Kerwe day on Sunday with Frühschoppen (morning pint), lunch, Kerwe parade in the afternoon, and festival evening, Monday Family Day with Kerwe burial late in the evening.

Kerweborsch and Customs

As in every Palatinate village, the Kerweborsch (Kerwe boys), 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.

Club Life and Catering

The local clubs – sports club, fire department, 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. On Sunday afternoon, the women of the parish serve coffee and cake.

Community Identity

For Kottweiler-Schwanden, the Kerwe is the social highlight of the year. Former residents return, families plan reunions, and the festival strengthens the cooperation between the clubs.