Kirchweih Schneckenlohe

Franconian Kerwa in the Kronach District

The Kirchweih – Franconian dialect for Kerwa or Kärwa – is the most important traditional festival of the year in the Frankenwald and the Kronach district. It commemorates the consecration of the village church or its patron saint's day and has evolved over centuries into a multi-day Volksfest. In Schneckenlohe, a small municipality in the northernmost part of Upper Franconia, bordering Thuringia, the Kerwa lasts from Friday to Monday and involves practically the entire village life.

Municipality and VfR Organize Together

The organizers are the Municipality of Schneckenlohe and VfR Schneckenlohe, the local sports club, which traditionally kicks off the festival with its 'Kerwa-Event' on the first day. Club members tap the first keg, manage the catering, and organize the program, which runs from the opening to the conclusion on Kerwamontag (Kirchweih Monday). Throughout the weekend, other clubs and volunteers from the village also participate.

Tradition: Parade, Tree Raising, Dancing

The schedule follows the Franconian Kerwa ritual: Opening on Friday evening with a gathering in the festival tent, followed on Saturday by the raising of the Kirchweihbaum – a tree trunk decorated with wreaths and ribbons is erected vertically using sheer muscle power. Sunday is the main celebration day with a church service, a parade, and a grand program in the festival tent. On Kerwamontag, the festival concludes in a relaxed manner with a Frühschoppen (morning pint) and lunch.

Schneckenlohe – Gateway to the Frankenwald

Schneckenlohe is located about 15 kilometers north of Kronach in the rolling hills of the Frankenwald, not far from the border with Thuringia and the former GDR. The region has preserved its Kerwa tradition in its unadulterated form. Those seeking to experience Franconian customs away from the tourist hotspots will find an authentic village festival here, complete with festival tent atmosphere, well-kept brass band music, and the typical Franconian blend of piety and sociability.