30th Richartzhusener Kerwe

30th Edition — Anniversary of the Kerwe

For almost three decades, the Richartzhusener Kerwe has been the major autumn festival of the municipality of Reichartshausen. In 2026, the 30th edition will be celebrated: from Friday, October 23rd, to Monday, October 26th, the town center will be transformed into a festival ground. The designation "Richartzhusener" is the dialect form of the town's name — a nod to the municipality's Palatinate and Kraichgau roots.

Volksfest with Kraichgau Tradition

The Kerwe (dialect for "Kirchweih" or church consecration festival) is the traditional autumn home festival of the region. It dates back to the annual commemoration of the consecration of the local church and is celebrated in Reichartshausen with a full program: a festival tent with regional bands, catering stands run by local clubs, a "Kerwepfarrer" (parish priest for the festival) with a traditional sermon, a Kerwe parade, and a large procession on Sunday. The festival concludes on Monday with a Frühshoppen (morning pint) and a children's program.

Clubs and Culinary Delights

The local clubs — the music association, sports club, fire department, rural women's association, and church choir — contribute to the festival with their own catering stands. Kraichgau specialties dominate: "Schäufele" (pork shoulder) with "Knepp" (dumplings) and cabbage, "Saumagen" (pork stomach), bratwurst, "Maultaschen" (Swabian ravioli), "Flammkuchen" (tarte flambée), accompanied by sweets like "Krapfen" (doughnuts) and "Apfelküchle" (fried apple slices). A "neuer Wein" (new wine) from the region's vineyards will be served.

Reichartshausen in the Rhein-Neckar District

The small municipality of Reichartshausen, with its approximately 2,000 inhabitants, is located in the southern Rhein-Neckar district, at the transition between the Kraichgau and the Odenwald forest region. It is part of the "Kleiner Odenwald" (Little Odenwald) administrative association, headquartered in Aglasterhausen. The Kerwe has always been the most important festival date in the community's life, attracting visitors from surrounding municipalities and the Heidelberg area.

30 Years of Kerwe Tradition

The current form of the Richartzhusener Kerwe was initiated in its modern iteration in 1997. Since then, it has taken place every year in October without interruption. The 30th edition in 2026 is a special anniversary, which will be celebrated with additional program items and an exhibition on the history of the Kerwe.