Kirmes Schönau an der Hörsel
Traditional village fair in the Schönau district — Wartburgkreis
About Kirmes Schönau
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Decades of Traditional Kirmes
The Kirmes Schönau an der Hörsel is one of the most traditional village fairs in the western Thuringian Wartburgkreis district. The venue is the Festwiese Schönau (Schönau festival grounds) in the Schönau a.d. Hörsel district of the municipality Wutha-Farnroda. The organizer is the Kirmesgesellschaft Schönau a.d. Hörsel e.V., an association active for generations, which organizes the festival and preserves traditional village life.
Program — Dance Evening, Frühschoppen, Kirmesbeerdigung
The program follows the classic Kirmes schedule: Opening on Friday evening with a dance evening and live music in the festival tent, Saturday program with dancing and performances by regional bands, Sunday morning «Frühschoppen» (morning pint) with brass music, children's fair in the afternoon, and the traditional «Kirmesbeerdigung» (fair funeral) in the evening — a humorous farewell to the Kirmes with a ceremonial funeral procession through the village, during which a symbolic «Kirmessack» (fair sack) is buried, marking the end of the festival weekend.
Schönau a.d. Hörsel — Hörsel Valley in the Wartburgkreis
Schönau an der Hörsel is a district of the municipality Wutha-Farnroda in the Wartburgkreis, about 8 kilometers northeast of Eisenach. The municipality is located in the valley of the Hörsel, a tributary of the Werra river. The district has around 700 inhabitants and is part of the western Thuringian low mountain range foothills — a region where the Kirmes tradition is particularly vibrantly preserved.
State of Thuringia — Tradition of the Hörsel Region
The Hörsel region between Eisenach and Gotha in the state of Thuringia is known for its village fairs and folk festivals. Those arriving for the Kirmes Schönau can easily combine the visit with Wartburg Castle in Eisenach (UNESCO World Heritage, 10 km), Hainich National Park (15 km), or a hike in the Hörsel valley.
Kirmes Schönau — edition 2026
September 4th to 6th, 2026 on the Festival Grounds
The Kirmes Schönau 2026 runs from Friday, September 4th to Sunday, September 6th, 2026. Three days of festivities centered around the Schönau festival grounds, organized by the Kirmesgesellschaft Schönau a.d. Hörsel e.V.
Kirmesbeerdigung as a Highlight
The highlight of the weekend is the traditional Kirmesbeerdigung on Sunday evening — a humorous funeral procession through the village to bid farewell to the festival weekend. One of the most charming peculiarities of the Schönau Kirmes tradition.
Programme Kirmes Schönau 2026
Program Highlights 2026 — Kirmes Schönau an der Hörsel
- Friday, September 4th, 2026: Opening evening with dance in the festival tent, live music
- Saturday, September 5th, 2026: Dance evening with a regional band, Kirmes atmosphere until late
- Sunday, September 6th, 2026:
- Morning: «Frühschoppen» with brass music
- Afternoon: Children's fair with carousel, games, coffee, and homemade cake
- Evening: Traditional Kirmesbeerdigung — funeral procession through the village bidding farewell to the Kirmes
- Venue: Festwiese Schönau a.d. Hörsel
- Organizer: Kirmesgesellschaft Schönau a.d. Hörsel e.V.
Current information: wutha-farnroda.de and vereine-schoenau.de/kirmes.
Highlights Kirmes Schönau 2026
- Three days of village fair
- Dance evenings with live music in the festival tent
- Sunday morning «Frühschoppen» with brass music
- Children's fair in the afternoon
- Traditional Kirmesbeerdigung on Sunday evening
- Intergenerational village festival
Prices Kirmes Schönau 2026
Admission to the festival tent is partly charged (dance evenings); «Frühschoppen» and children's fair are usually free. Food and drinks available on-site.
Practical information — Kirmes Schönau
Date 2026
Friday, September 4th to Sunday, September 6th, 2026.
Location
Festwiese Schönau a.d. Hörsel, district of Wutha-Farnroda, Wartburgkreis.
Getting There
By car: A4 to Eisenach, then B7/B84 to Wutha-Farnroda. By public transport: Eisenach train station, then by bus.
Admission
Admission to the festival tent is partly charged (dance evenings). Sunday morning «Frühschoppen» and children's fair are usually free.
Tip
The «Kirmesbeerdigung» on Sunday evening is the humorous peculiarity of the Schönau Kirmes festival — the funeral procession through the village regularly attracts onlookers.
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Travel to this festival
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Where it takes place Kirmes Schönau
Festwiese Schönau a.d. Hörsel
Festwiese Schönau a.d. Hörsel, 99848 Wutha-Farnroda