Kirchweihfest Weismain

A Franconian Kirchweih in the Obermaintal Valley

Weismain is located in the Lichtenfels district of Upper Franconia, at the foot of the Franconian Jura and at the beginning of the Upper Main Jura. The Weismainer Kirchweih is the town's largest Volksfest and is traditionally organized by the Weismainer Blasmusik e.V. in cooperation with the town of Weismain. The festival grounds are the Kastenhof — the inner courtyard of the historic Kastner building right next to St. Martin's parish church (Kirchplatz 7–13).

Four Days of Festival Operations

The Kirchweih traditionally spans four days, from Friday to Monday. Each festival day has its own profile: Festival host collection and tapping of the keg on Friday, a grand festival evening on Saturday, a classic morning pint with brass music on Sunday, and on festival Monday, the family day with coffee and cake, and the Kirchweih closing with a guest band.

Brass Music as a Guiding Thread

The Weismainer Blasmusik is the musical backbone of the festival. They are responsible for the festival host collection on Friday evening with a concert at 6:30 PM, the subsequent tapping ceremony at 7:30 PM, the morning pint on Sunday morning, and the family afternoon on festival Monday. With the new conductor Heimo Bierwirth from Bamberg, the Blasmusik is entering a new era in 2026 — his predecessor Marion Müller-Eitzenberger had led the association for 14 years.

Family Day and Kirchweih Closing

Festival Monday is family day with coffee and cake available from 2 PM. Afterwards, the Bläserklasse Weismain (youth and beginner program) will perform at 4 PM — the young musicians get to play in front of a home crowd. The festival concludes at 6:30 PM with the Kasendorfer Musikanten and the Kirchweih closing.

St. Martin and the Kastenhof

The festival grounds at Kastenhof are a historic site: The former episcopal Kastenhof — the granary for tithes of the Bamberg Prince-Bishopric — forms the spiritual center of Weismain together with St. Martin's parish church. The Kirchweih is linked in the liturgical calendar to the patron saint's festival and is thus both tradition and religion.