Kirchweih Großeibstadt

The latest Franconian Kerwa

The Kirchweih Großeibstadt – Franconian Kerwa – is one of the latest Kirchweihen in Franconia: It is traditionally celebrated on the weekend of Totensonntag, one week before the first Advent. In 2026, this falls on November 21 and 22, 2026 (Totensonntag 2026: November 22). The venue is the village square of the Lower Franconian municipality of Großeibstadt in the Rhön-Grabfeld district (Bavaria), near the Hessian-Thuringian border.

The Kerwa Youth and the Satirical Sermon

The heart of the Kerwa Großeibstadt is the satirical Kirchweih sermon. Throughout the year, the village youth (16–20 years old), occasionally joined by older lads, collect anecdotes and curious events from village life. On Saturday afternoon at 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM, the Kerwa youth present these collected happenings in the form of a Kirchweih sermon on the village square – a Franconian local tradition that satirically reviews the year.

Kirmesgesellschaft on the Wagon

During the Kirchweih sermon, the Großeibstadt brass band accompanies the Kirmesgesellschaft in a procession through the village: The girls sit on a decorated wagon, while the boys walk alongside in old suits with ribbon-adorned hats. The women wear traditional country dresses, and the men wear vintage suits with ribbon-adorned hats.

Kirchweihball on Saturday Evening

On Saturday evening, the traditional Kirchweihball takes place – the younger generation dances to Schlager and folk music, while the older generation enjoys conversation in social gatherings. The festival weekend is complemented by Schafkopf playing on Monday afternoon (a classic Bavarian card game) and another typical custom, the "Kirmes-Schulz" – a figure adopted from the neighboring municipality of Wolfmannshausen.

Mix of Franconian and Thuringian Customs

A special feature of Großeibstadt: In the 1960s, the municipality took in refugees from Thuringia. To this day, this history shapes the Kerwa customs – Franconian and Thuringian elements merge into a unique regional blend.

Großeibstadt and the Grabfeld Region

Großeibstadt is a municipality with around 1,000 inhabitants in the Rhön-Grabfeld district (Lower Franconia, Bavaria), on the border with Thuringia. The Kerwa is one of the few festivals that take place in November – most Franconian Kirchweihen are held earlier in the autumn – making it a concluding highlight before the Advent season.