Lachener Farmers' and Winegrowers' Kerwe

The Lachener Bauern- und Winzerkerwe is the traditional August Kerwe of the Palatinate wine village Lachen-Speyerdorf — the largest of Neustadt an der Weinstraße's eight wine villages, along with Mußbach. The double designation "Bauern- und Winzerkerwe" (Farmers' and Winegrowers' Kerwe) refers to the mixed agricultural structure of the village, where traditional farming plays a role alongside viticulture.

The 2026 edition takes place from Friday, August 14th to Monday, August 17th — the third weekend in August, which has been reserved for the Kerwe in Lachen-Speyerdorf for generations. The venue is the festival grounds at Theodor-Heuss-Straße 53, the traditional festival center of the village.

The festival opening on Friday is heralded by the traditional Kerwe parade: a brass band plays at the front, and the Lachen-Speyerdorf Wine Princess represents the wine village and Palatinate wine culture. Afterwards, the festival grounds fill with the first guests, and the festival catering begins.

The absolute highlight of the Kerwe is the traditional Schoppen run on Saturday: a humorous and athletic obstacle competition where teams of Schoppen lovers from Lachen and elsewhere must navigate a course with Palatinate Schoppen (wine glasses) in hand. The team that spills the least wine and is the fastest wins. The Schoppen run is a Palatinate festival classic and uniquely Lachen.

On all festival days, the Lachener winegrowers serve their wines — Riesling, Müller-Thurgau, Weißburgunder, and Palatinate Rosé wines. Palatinate specialties — Saumagen, Bratwurst, Leberknödel, Quetschekuche, Flammkuchen — complement the wines.

The familiar atmosphere of a village Kerwe day, the mix of rural tradition and Palatinate wine culture, and the unique Schoppen run spectacle make the Lachener Bauern- und Winzerkerwe a Palatinate festival highlight.