Kirchweih Offenhausen — Keilberg-Kirchweih

A Kirchweih at a Plague Chapel

Offenhausen is located in the Nürnberger Land district in Middle Franconia. On the Keilberg hill above the village stands the ruin of the chapel of St. Ottmar and St. Ottilien — built in thanks for surviving the plague in 1436 and consecrated in 1448. Today, the chapel is a ruin, but the surrounding plateau remains the venue for the annual Kirchweih, which is called »Keilberg-Kirchweih«.

Character of the Kirchweih

• Date on the second Sunday in July (variant): Traditionally, the Keilberg-Kirchweih is celebrated on the second Sunday in July. In 2026, it will be held over several days from July 23 to 27.
• Festive church service at the chapel ruin: The event begins with a service at the historic chapel.
• Local associations as organizers: The local associations of Offenhausen — fire brigade, shooting club, music club, and others — organize the festival together.
• Catering: Classic Franconian Kirchweih specialties: Schäuferla (pork shoulder), Bratwurst (sausage), Klöße (dumplings), beer, Schorle (mixed drink).
• Music and club life: Brass music, cover band, club evenings — a typical Franconian Kirchweih mix.

Federal State and Cultural Context

Bavaria, administrative region of Middle Franconia, district of Nürnberger Land. The Nürnberger Land region has a particularly dense Kirchweih culture — from spring to autumn, the Kerwa (Kirchweih) season moves from village to village. The Keilberg-Kirchweih in Offenhausen is one of the variants particularly charged with historical depth — the plague history of the 1440s is not coincidentally immortalized in the festival title here.