Kirchweih Gräfenberg

Gräfenberg in the southern Forchheim district

Gräfenberg is a town in the southern Forchheim district, at the transition from Franconian Switzerland to the Middle Franconian basin landscape. With its characteristic old town, its historic market square, its brewery inns, and its location between Erlangen and Bayreuth, Gräfenberg is an insider tip for Franconia lovers. The annual Kirchweih on the first August weekend is the convivial highlight of the town's calendar.

City-centre Kerwa without a festival tent — the Gräfenberg peculiarity

The hallmark of the Gräfenberg Kirchweih is its unusual concept: no large festival tent. Instead, celebrations take place in the inns around the market square and in the streets of the old town. Guests wander from one establishment to another, each with its own specialties, beers, and regulars. This "Wirtshaus-Kerwa" tradition has become rare in Bavaria and constitutes Gräfenberg's unmistakable charm.

Brewery tradition

Gräfenberg is a true Franconian beer town with several breweries and brewery inns — the Hofmann, Friedmann, and Lindenbräu breweries shape the beer offerings. During the Kirchweih, the beer from these regional private breweries flows freely; each inn serves the beer of its preferred brewery, and guests can experience the full spectrum of Upper Franconian beer culture with a "Kerwa-Hopping".

Franconian customs and conviviality

The Kirchweih programme follows Upper Franconian tradition: festive church service on Sunday morning, followed by Frühschoppen (morning pint) in the inns, the traditional Bieranstich (beer tapping) in the afternoon (in the establishments), and live music from brass and dance bands in the evening. Carousels and fairground rides are set up in the streets — a small Volksfest in a Franconian small-town atmosphere.

Double Kirchweih tradition

A peculiarity of the town: Gräfenberg celebrates two Kirchweihen per year. The *main Kirchweih* in the old town around the market square takes place on the first Sunday in August — thus August 1st/2nd in 2026. A second one, the Michaeliskirchweih, follows on the last Sunday in September. This double tradition is one of the town's historical peculiarities and secures Gräfenberg two fixed highlights in its festival calendar.

Connection to Franconian Switzerland

Visitors to the Kirchweih can combine their stay with explorations in the nearby Franconian Switzerland. Hiking trails through the hilly landscape, beer hiking trails between the breweries, the Franconian Brewery Museum in the region — Gräfenberg is the ideal starting point for an extended Franconian summer weekend.