Kirchweih Reitsch — Stockheim

Folk Fair in Franconian Kronach Region

The Kirchweih in Reitsch is one of the many Kerwa festivals that take place in the villages of Upper Franconia every summer. Reitsch is a district of the mining community Stockheim in the Kronach district, in the far north of Bavaria, near the border with Thuringia. The organizers are the Catholic Parish Community Reitsch, which belongs to the parish of Stockheim, and the local sports club SV Reitsch, which is responsible for the festival activities at the sports center.

St. Cross Filial Church and Sports Center

The venue for the religious part is the St. Cross Filial Church in Reitsch, a small pilgrimage church in the middle of the village. The traditional Kirchweih church service takes place here on Kirchweih Sunday. Immediately afterwards, the festival moves to the SV Reitsch Sports Center at Engelsgasse 6, where the sports club hosts the multi-day Kirchweih festival with a festival tent atmosphere.

Program of a Franconian Kerwa

The program follows the typical structure of a Franconian Volkskirchweih:

• Beer tapping ceremony and opening of the festival on Thursday or Friday evening
• Festival tent operation over several days with Franconian specialties (Schäufele, Bratwurst, Sauerbraten, Salzbraten)
• Kirchweih church service in the St. Cross Filial Church on Sunday
• Followed by Frühschoppen (morning pint) and lunch at the sports center
• Family afternoon with coffee and cake
• Dance evenings with local bands or DJs
• Closing on Monday or Tuesday with Frühschoppen

Mining Community Stockheim

Stockheim — the official designation as a mining community refers to the hard coal mining that was carried out in the area until the 20th century — is located on the edge of the Frankenwald forest. Reitsch is one of the smaller districts with its own identity, its own church, and its own sports club. Such mini-Kerwas are the authentic heart of Franconian folk life — usually without major poster advertising, but with all the more heartfelt community spirit. A visit can be combined with hikes in the Frankenwald or a trip to Kronach with the Rosenberg Fortress.