Kirmes Gebesee

A Young Kirmes Society with a Long Tradition

The Kirmesgesellschaft Gebesee was founded in 2013 as a registered association to revive and modernize the centuries-old Kirmes tradition of the small town in the Sömmerda district. Since then, the association has organized the Gebesee Kirmes every year on the first weekend of July – a multi-day Volksfest with a festival tent, stage program, rides, food stalls, and dance evenings.

Gebesee — Small Town on the Unstrut River

Gebesee is located in the Thuringian Basin on the Unstrut river, about 25 kilometers north of Erfurt and 12 kilometers west of Sömmerda. The small town with approximately 2,500 inhabitants has a historic castle, a late Gothic town church, and a market square that serves as a backdrop for civic and local festivals. The Kirmes is the most important annual major event and attracts visitors from the entire Sömmerda district and the state capital Erfurt.

Program and Atmosphere

The Kirmesgesellschaft offers a packed weekly program with DJ nights, live bands, children's entertainment, and traditional elements such as the beer tapping ceremony to open the event. The festival tent can accommodate 500 people. The festival grounds feature classic rides – chain carousel, bumper cars, Ferris wheel, shooting gallery – and a food area with Thuringian Bratwurst, fried mushrooms, and lard bread.

A Young Club Life

Over 50 members of the Kirmesgesellschaft – mostly young adults from Gebesee and the surrounding area – volunteer to run the festival. They manage the stalls, organize the program, and ensure the typical atmosphere of a Kirchweih: communal, cheerful, and intergenerational.

Special Event "SNB 2026"

For the 2026 edition, the Kirmesgesellschaft invites you to a special concert evening on Thursday, July 10th: "SNB 2026" with the PIANO BUDDIES, a show featuring two pianos and entertainment qualities. A recommendation for friends of popular music and captivating stage shows.