Kirchweih Adelsdorf

Kerwa – Heart of the Franconian Festival Calendar

The Kirchweih, known as "Kerwa" or "Kärwa" in Franconia, is one of the most important traditional festivals in the municipalities of Middle Franconia. In Adelsdorf, a municipality in the Erlangen-Höchstadt district of Bavaria, the Kirchweih is a highlight of the year. It commemorates the consecration of the parish church of St. Stephanus on October 26, 1909.

Date in the Golden October

The Adelsdorf Kirchweih is celebrated on the third Sunday in October. The autumn date has historical reasons: only when the agricultural work was completed could people celebrate exuberantly. The festival is organized by the Adelsdorfer Burschen e.V., who have preserved the Kirchweih customs for generations.

Customs and Festival Program

The Adelsdorf Kärwa includes fixed customs: the raising of the Kerwabaum on Saturday afternoon, accompanied by the Adelsdorf musicians, the beer tapping ceremony by the mayor, which opens the festival in the tent on the market square, the celebratory service in St. Stephanus with a subsequent consecration meal, and the traditional "Betzen Raustanzen" (a dance ritual). In addition, there are food stalls, amusement rides, children's activities, and live music.

Several Kirchweihen in the Municipality

In addition to the main Kirchweih in Adelsdorf, other Kirchweihen are celebrated in the municipality: in Aisch on the first Sunday in August, in Neuhaus on the second Sunday after Ägidius in September, and in Weppersdorf on the fourth Sunday in September. This diversity underscores the vibrant Kirchweih tradition in the Erlangen-Höchstadt district.