Sulzbacher Kirmes

Late Summer Tradition in the Sulzbachtal Valley

The Sulzbacher Kirmes traditionally takes place at the end of August or beginning of September – in 2023 it ran from September 2nd to 4th, and in 2024 from August 31st to September 2nd. The organizer is the town of Sulzbach/Saar in the Saarbrücken regional association. With its fixed date at the transition from summer to autumn, it marks the start of the Saarland autumn festival season.

Several Locations, One Festival

The fair is spread across various locations in Sulzbach. The rides and snack stands are located on the "Auf der Schmelz" festival grounds, while the Salzbrunnenhaus hosts the food stalls with Saarland specialties and live music. The traditional barrel tapping ceremony takes place at the Unterer Markt, and the Ravanusaplatz serves as the assembly point for the parade.

Program Highlights

Three program elements make the Sulzbacher Kirmes unique: Firstly, the culinary fun run as an opening ritual – the town's leadership and dignitaries walk through the city center to the barrel tapping ceremony. Secondly, the barrel tapping by the mayor and the municipal utility director with ceremonial hammer blows. Thirdly, the children's program with Disney characters like Elsa and Olaf, as well as the popular giant soap bubble show – a format that clearly positions the Sulzbacher Kirmes as family-friendly.

Clubs, Traditional Costumes, Fire Brigade

The parade is like a photo album of Sulzbach's club landscape. Traditional costume wearers, the fire brigade band, sports clubs, the showmen's association – they all march along, carrying decorated maypoles and showcasing a piece of Saarland identity. Catering is provided by the clubs and the showmen's trade.

Sulzbach and Structural Change

Sulzbach/Saar in the Saarbrücken regional association was a mining town for centuries – coal and glassworks shaped the town. With structural change and the end of mining, Sulzbach had to reinvent itself; the Kirmes is one of the cultural constants that has survived this change and continues to hold the town's life together.