Kirchweih Spardorf

Franconian Kerwa in Middle Franconia

The Kirchweih Spardorf is the annual village fair of the small community of Spardorf in the Erlangen-Höchstadt district of Middle Franconia. As is the case throughout Franconia, the 'Kärwa' is much more than just a folk festival: it is a living tradition, upheld by the local heritage association and the Kirchweihverein Spardorf, with the local 'Kärwaburschen' and 'Kärwamadli' at its heart.

Raising the Festival Tree

A centerpiece of the Spardorf Kerwa is the traditional tree-raising ceremony: accompanied by music, the festival tree is brought to the fairground and then raised by the local young men using traditional methods—relying solely on muscle power and wooden poles known as 'Schwalben'. It is an emotional highlight for the entire village.

From Tapping the Keg to the Betzenaustanzen

The festival traditionally kicks off with the ceremonial tapping of the beer keg by the board members of the two associations. Throughout the festival, party bands and local brass ensembles perform in the marquee, complemented by an ecumenical church service and a traditional white sausage breakfast. The grand finale is the Betzenaustanzen—an ancient Franconian custom where couples dance around a bouquet until the music suddenly stops.

Marquee and Beer Garden

Celebrations take place in a marquee with an adjoining beer garden. The intimate atmosphere of a village festival, combined with a deep commitment to local customs, defines the charm of the Spardorf Kirchweih—a fixed date in the Franconian festival calendar of the Erlangen-Höchstadt district. The specific daily schedules and times for each year are announced by the associations shortly before the event.