Kirchweih Wetzendorf

District Kerwa in the Knoblauchsland

Wetzendorf is located in the north of Nuremberg, on the edge of the Knoblauchsland vegetable-growing area — that fertile strip between Nuremberg, Fürth, and Erlangen that supplies Bavaria's capital with fresh salads, garlic, and asparagus. The Wetzendorfer Kirchweih is a classic Franconian district Kirchweih, organized by the Nuremberg City Property Management Department in cooperation with local clubs and the Kirchweihburschen.

Festival Grounds on Wetzendorfer Strasse

Directly on Wetzendorfer Strasse, in the middle of the district, lies a small festival ground. Here, the beer tent is set up for four to five days, alongside amusement rides and stalls — a children's carousel, shooting gallery, gingerbread hearts, bratwurst, and fish-on-a-stick stands. A manageable, village-like Kirchweih, right in the middle of the city of Nuremberg (independent city, Free State of Bavaria, 09564).

Kirchweihbaum, Betzentanz, and Knoblauchsländer Musikanten

The traditional Kerwa program follows the Franconian pattern: Beer tapping on Friday evening, erection of the Kirchweihbaum by the Kirchweihburschen on Saturday afternoon, festival music on Sunday, Frühschoppen on Monday, and Betzentanzen on Monday evening. The Betzentanzen is a Franconian tradition where a bouquet is passed from hand to hand while the music plays — whoever holds the bouquet when the music stops is eliminated. A playful way to crown the 'Kirchweihbaum King' or 'Queen'.

Knoblauchsländer Musikanten

The resident band for the Wetzendorfer Kirchweih is the Knoblauchsländer Musikanten, led by Georg Pfann — a brass band deeply rooted in the Knoblauchsland, which has been playing for Kirchweihen and district festivals in Nuremberg's northern districts for years. On Saturday evening, the program switches to party band sound, attracting a younger audience to the district Kerwa.