Kirmes Müden (Mosel)

Müden (Mosel) is one of the most beautiful villages on the Untermosel and is located at the entrance to the Eltzbach Valley, which leads hikers to the world-famous Eltz Castle. This scenic location and the tourist appeal of Eltz Castle also shape the local festival culture: The Müden Kirmes is one of the most visited folk festivals (Volksfeste) in the region and attracts guests from the entire Mosel-Eifel area as well as from the Rhineland.

The special feature of the Müden Kirmes is its length: The festival extends over five days, from Friday to Tuesday, thus allowing for a significantly more varied program than the usual three- or four-day festivals. It traditionally opens on Friday evening with a first dance evening in the marquee. Saturday evening features the grand festival evening with a live band, Sunday morning the morning pint gathering (Frühschoppen) with brass music, Sunday afternoon the family afternoon, Monday evening the homeland evening (Heimatabend), and Tuesday evening the particularly cozy 'Kirmesausklang' (end of the fair) with traditional music and local specialties.

The wines come from Müden's vintners and their neighbors – Rieslings, Spätburgunder, and Müller-Thurgau from the steep slopes around the village. Culinary delights include typical Mosel festival cuisine: 'Schwenkbraten' (marinated pork neck) from an open grill, bratwurst, fries, potato pancakes (Reibekuchen), Riesling wild ragout, and hearty festive dishes. Traveling showmen are also present – carousels, shooting galleries, candy stalls – providing the classic Kirmes feeling.

The organizer is the Müden Festival Committee (Festausschuss Müden), which includes local clubs, the parish community, and the vintners. For generations, the Kirmes has been an important social anchor for the village and is organized with great volunteer effort.