Kerwe Sandhofen Mannheim

One of Mannheim's most traditional Kerwen

The Kerwe Sandhofen is the Kirchweih (church consecration festival) of the northern Mannheim district of Sandhofen — one of the largest and oldest district Kerwen in the city of squares. At the end of August (usually the last full weekend of August, often Friday to Monday), it takes place between the "Am Stich" festival grounds and the war memorial along Kattowitzer Zeile. It is organized by the Kerweverein Mannheim-Sandhofen e.V., which revives the traditional program year after year.

Funfair, Festival Tent, and Club Stalls

A classic small funfair awaits guests on the festival meadow: a Ferris wheel or chain carousel, dodgems, a children's carousel, game stalls, shooting galleries, and sweet stalls offering almonds, gingerbread hearts, and Magenbrot (a type of gingerbread). Bands from the region play in the festival tent, alongside stalls from Sandhofen's clubs offering bratwurst, specialties, and beer. The Kerwe traditionally opens with the tapping of the first keg on Friday evening.

Sandhofer Kerwelauf — Sporting Event Before the Festival Week

A special feature is the Sandhofer Kerwelauf: a fun run organized by TSV 1879 Sandhofen, which traditionally takes place around the Kerwe week through Sandhofer Straße. For 2026, the run is already confirmed for May 20, 2026 (start and finish area Sandhofer Straße 329, several distances for children, teenagers, and adults). This combination of sports and Kerwe is part of the profile of the Sandhofen festival cycle.

Sandhofen and Mannheim — A District with its Own Identity

Sandhofen is located in the north of Mannheim, directly on the border with Lampertheim and Heddesheim. With around 13,000 inhabitants, the district is one of the larger district centers in the city and maintains its own identity — with its "sister villages," club life, the Kerweverein, and a festival culture that consciously differs from that of Mannheim's city center. In the state of Baden-Württemberg, in the urban district of Mannheim at the transition to the Palatinate region, the Kerwe Sandhofen is an important marker on the festival calendar.