Kirchweih Grafenwiesen – Kirtabaum and Parish Festival

A Vibrant Bavarian Forest Tradition

The Kirchweih in Grafenwiesen is one of those Bavarian traditional festivals that have retained their authenticity because they are maintained without being co-opted for tourism. The festival is organized by the Heimat- und Volkstrachtenverein „Regentaler" Grafenwiesen (Local and Folk Costume Club), which has been erecting the Kirchweihbaum, preserving historical dances, and co-organizing the Parish Festival for generations.

The Kirtabaum – A Year-Long Landmark

The Kirtabaum (Kirchweihbaum) is a tall, decorated pole erected one week after Pentecost – on the Saturday before Trinity Sunday. Accompanied by the costume club and the brass band of the volunteer fire department, the pole is pulled to the village square by a horse-drawn carriage. After it's erected, the youth of the costume club perform dances around the pole, accompanied by an accordion. The pole remains standing until the end of September, serving as a visible landmark of Grafenwiesen for almost four months.

Parish Festival in the Kurpark

On Sunday, the Parish Festival takes place in the Kurpark – featuring a festive church service, a morning pint (Frühschoppen), Bavarian inn cuisine, and a cozy get-together under the shade of the park trees. The Grafenwiesen parish organizes the festival with the help of local clubs and parish staff.

Grafenwiesen – Health Resort in the Bavarian Forest

Grafenwiesen is a municipality of around 1,700 inhabitants in the Cham district (Upper Palatinate, Bavaria), at the foot of the Bavarian Forest mountains near the Czech border. Its location between the Bavarian Forest mountains and the Regen valley makes Grafenwiesen a popular health resort. The intact tradition of the "Regentaler" costume club and the lovingly maintained customs attract guests interested in living traditions beyond tourist spectacles.