Kirwa Berngau

A Classic Upper Palatinate Patron Saint's Day

The Kirwa Berngau is the patron saint's day festival of the Catholic parish of St. Peter and Paul in Berngau, Upper Palatinate. It is celebrated at the end of June around the feast day of the two chief apostles (June 29) and combines religion, tradition, and village festival in a three-day program.

Program and Schedule

The Berngauer Kirwa follows the classic Upper Palatinate pattern:

• Saturday, 1:00 PM – Start of the Kirchweih (church consecration festival) at Ramoldplatz with beer tapping and marquee operation
• Sunday, 9:30 AM – Festive service for the patron saint's day of St. Peter and Paul in the parish church
• Sunday afternoon – Festival operation at Ramoldplatz, performances by the Kirwaburschen and Kirwamadla (young women celebrating Kirwa), traditional Baumaustanzen (tree-climbing dance)
• Monday, 7:00 PM – Kirwa closing in the Berngauer Hof

Kirwaverein Berngau

The festival is organized by the Kirwaverein Berngau e.V., which has consistently maintained the traditional customs – Kirwabaum (Kirwa tree), Kirwapaare (Kirwa couples), festival tent – over the years. On festival days, 800 to 1,000 visitors are expected per day; this makes the Berngauer Kirwa one of the well-attended patron saint's days in the Neumarkt region.

Berngau in the Neumarkt District

Berngau is located in the Landkreis Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz (Bavaria), southwest of the district town of Neumarkt, and belongs ecclesiastically to the Diocese of Eichstätt. The municipality with around 2,500 inhabitants thrives on a mix of agriculture, serving as a commuter town, and a strong club life. The Kirwa is one of the most distinctive identity-defining events of the year – many former Berngau residents return to the village for it.