Mauer Kerwe

Mauer — Palatinate Kerwe in Baden-Württemberg

Mauer is a small community of around 4,000 inhabitants in the Rhein-Neckar district (AGS 08226), located a few kilometers southeast of Heidelberg. Geographically and culturally, Mauer belongs to the northern Palatinate region — and with it comes its own Kerwe tradition, which is more Baden-Palatinate in character than Swabian. The Mauermer Kerwe is one of the most important summer and autumn festivals in the community.

"Mauermer Kerwe, jo net vorher sterwe!"

The motto of the Kerwe is its program: "Mauermer Kerwe, jo net vorher sterwe!" — Palatinate dialect for "Mauer Kerwe, yes, don't die before!" A commitment to the joy of life, tradition, and celebrating together, which has shaped the Kerwe for generations. Anyone who has visited a Mauermer Kerwe knows what is meant.

Date and Schedule 2026

The Kerwe runs from Saturday, October 24th to Tuesday, October 27th, 2026 — four days of festivities on the festival grounds at Schulhof Mauer, traditionally under the large festival tent. Program:

• Saturday, October 24th: Festival opening, beer tapping, live music, concurrently the Kerwe game day with cow dung lottery by SG Viktoria (sports event)
• Sunday, October 25th: Morning pint with brass music, family afternoon, evening with live music
• Monday, October 26th: Traditional Kerwe Monday with catering and program
• Tuesday, October 27th: Festival conclusion and Kerwebegraben (traditional closing ritual with a Kerwe doll)

Kerweverein Mauer

The organizer is the Kerweverein Mauer in cooperation with the municipal administration. The club is responsible for setup, program, catering, and security. Catering is classic: beer on tap (from a regional Palatinate brewery), Bratwürste (sausages), Saumagen (pig's stomach stuffed with pork and potatoes), Lewwer (liver sausage), Schäufele (pork shoulder), Spätzle (egg noodles), Palatinate specialties — and at the long tables, the typical wine and beer atmosphere of the northern Baden region.

Kerwe Tradition in the Palatinate

The Kerwe (from "Kirchweih") is one of the oldest village festival traditions in southern Germany — originally the festival of the church consecration of each individual village, it has been generalized over the centuries into a popular autumn festival. In the Palatinate, the Kerwe is particularly cherished — almost every community has its own Kerwe date and its own customs. The Kerwebegraben on the last day — the symbolic "burial" of a straw doll representing the past Kerwe — is a highlight of Palatinate Kerwe customs.