Neulußheim Kerwe

Kerwe Tradition in Northern Baden

The "Kerwe" is the Northern Baden and Palatinate term for the Kirchweih (church consecration festival) — originally the festival day for the inauguration of a church, today a multi-day folk festival with a festival tent, fairground, and club stands. In Neulußheim, a municipality in the Rhein-Neckar district between Hockenheim and Speyer, the Kerwe has become one of the most important autumn dates: five days of festival program that transform the entire town center into a festival mile in mid-October.

Five Days of Festival Program

The Kerwe traditionally begins on Friday with the tapping of the first keg at the festival tent, runs at full strength on Saturday and Sunday (live bands, family program, parade on Sunday afternoon), and ends on Tuesday with the traditional Senior Citizens' Kerwe Day. On Monday, the Kerwe tradition is particularly celebrated — then comes the "Kerwe-Beerdigung" (Kerwe funeral), a humorous custom where the Kerwe is symbolically laid to rest in a solemn ceremony (with eulogies, a mourning procession, and a subsequent festive feast).

Senior Citizens' Kerwe on Tuesday

The Senior Citizens' Kerwe on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 3:00 PM at the Protestant Community Center (St. Leoner Straße 1) is a special feature of the Neulußheim Kerwe: The municipality invites older citizens to their own Kerwe afternoon under the motto "Active in Old Age" — with coffee, cake, live music, and a social program. This tradition makes the Kerwe not just a folk festival for the younger generation, but a community festival that spans generations.

Trade Exhibition and Club Stands

The Neulußheim trade exhibition takes place parallel to the Kerwe: local craftspeople, traders, and service providers present their offerings in the town center. Clubs operate food and drink stands, with proceeds going to the club treasuries. A typical scene at Northern Baden Kerwen: Bratwurst and fries alongside Spundekäs and Saumagen, with Palatinate wine and Helles beer served in Henninger glasses.

Rhein-Neckar District

Neulußheim is located in the Rhein-Neckar district in Baden-Württemberg, about 20 kilometers south of Mannheim. The municipality, with nearly 7,000 inhabitants, borders Hockenheim (Hockenheimring), Reilingen, and Altlußheim, and is part of the highly urbanized Rhein-Neckar metropolitan region. Nevertheless, its rural character with scattered orchards, club life, and traditional customs has been preserved.