Kirchweih Almoshof

Kerwa in the Knoblauchsland

The Kirchweih Almoshof is deeply rooted in the tradition of the Franconian Knoblauchsland — that vegetable-growing area in the north of Nuremberg which has supplied the Franconian city with lettuce, tomatoes, leeks, and garlic for centuries. Almoshof, one of the characteristic farming villages in this area, celebrates its Kirchweih over five days in mid-July with a program that puts its agricultural identity at the center.

Beer Tent and Amusement Rides on the Main Street

The Almoshofer Hauptstraße forms the festive axis: the large beer tent is a meeting point for clubs, regulars, and for music evenings, while showman stalls with carousels, shooting galleries, snack stands, and small amusement rides line the street. Compared to Nuremberg's major Kirchweihen (Heroldsberger, Worzeldorfer Kirchweih), Almoshof is more family-oriented and more deeply rooted in the village community.

Traditional Harvest Festival Parade

The social highlight is the parade on the festival Sunday: up to 2,500 spectators line the Almoshofer Hauptstraße to admire the elaborately flower-decorated horse-drawn wagons and thematically designed tractors. The wagons often carry vegetables from their own harvest and are designed by local farmers' wives, clubs, and local businesses. Themes range from classic harvest motifs to beach volleyball courts and mobile sauna huts — a lot of humorous creativity and high craftsmanship.

Burial of the Kirchweih

The final highlight is the traditional Burial of the Kirchweih: on the last evening of the festival, an actor dressed as a pastor delivers a humorous eulogy for the departing Kirchweih. Club members symbolically bury the Kirchweih (often a self-made fabric or straw Christmas tree) and promise to revive it a year later. The ritual is widespread in Franconia and turns the end of the festival into a collective farewell.

Almoshof in Transition

Almoshof is officially a statistical district of the city of Nuremberg but has largely retained its village character. The old parish church of St. Helena and the rectory, the farmhouses along the main street, and the surrounding vegetable fields form an authentic ensemble. The Kirchweih is not just a festival but also a source of identity for this district.