Ommaschommer Kerb' Ommersheim

What is a Kerb?

'Kerb' (or Kerwe, Kirchweih) is a folk festival tradition in southwestern Germany, originally commemorating the consecration of a parish church. In Ommersheim, a district of Mandelbachtal in the Saarpfalz district, the Kerb has evolved over centuries into a four-day festival – with customs that are unique in the Saarland.

When does the Kerb take place?

Every year on the first weekend of October. In 2026, the Ommerschommer Kerb' runs from Saturday, October 3rd to Tuesday, October 6th, 2026. The main event days are Saturday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

The Graduating Class of 18 – the Organizers

A special feature of the Ommersheimer Kerb: It is organized by an entire graduating class of young adults. Specifically: by the class whose members turn 18 in the current year. These young people take over the entire organization, from beer service to stage moderation – an initiation rite that shapes the classes across generations. At the end of the festival, responsibility is handed over to the next graduating class.

The Traditional Program

Saturday Evening – The Digging Up

On Saturday evening, the Kerb – symbolically a wine bottle buried by the previous year's graduating class – is unearthed again and presented publicly. This officially begins the festival.

Sunday – Procession and Kerwspiele

A decorated fir tree accompanies the graduating class through the village. After the Kerwrede (festival speech), the crowd moves to the sports field for the Kerwspiele – usually a mix of club games, wheelbarrow races, and similar fun competitions.

Monday Evening – Lumbezuch and Kerwemusikanten

The Lumbezuch is a procession where the graduating class 'visits' the village's shops and pubs – accompanied by music and the friendly pressure to contribute donations and drinks. For several years now, the Original Ommersheimer Kerwemusikanten have been playing in the village center from 6 PM onwards.

Tuesday Evening – Hammelausdanze and Handover

The final day is dedicated to the Hammelausdanze – a traditional dance, which (formerly literally) involved a ram. Today it's more symbolic, but the dance itself lives on. At midnight, the Kerb – the wine bottle – is ceremonially handed over to the next graduating class, who will take responsibility for 2027.

Parish Church of Mariä Heimsuchung

The religious focal point of the Kerb is the Parish Church of Mariä Heimsuchung in the village center – even though the festival has long since become more secular. The festive service on Sunday remains a traditional part of the program.

Ommersheim and the Mandelbachtal

Ommersheim is a district of the municipality of Mandelbachtal in the Saarpfalz district, with just under 2,000 inhabitants. The Mandelbachtal is located in the Bliesgau, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and consists of 8 districts, each with its own identity. The Ommersheimer Kerb is considered one of the liveliest Kerwen in the region – an example of how rural traditions can remain relevant when young generations are actively involved.