Winnweiler Hauptkerwe
The grand Hauptkerwe of the Winnweiler municipality on the Donnersberg – five days of Volksfest from Friday to Tuesday around the second Sunday in September.
About Winnweiler Hauptkerwe
The Winnweiler Hauptkerwe is the traditional Kirchweih (church consecration festival) of the market town of Winnweiler in the Donnersberg district. With its five festival days from Friday to Tuesday around the second Sunday in September, it is one of the largest Kerwen (village fairs) in Northern Palatinate and has been a central date in the event calendar of the Winnweiler municipality for generations.
Market Town at the Foot of the Donnersberg
Winnweiler is located at the southwestern foot of the Donnersberg, the highest mountain in the Palatinate, and is the seat of the municipality of the same name. Its historical market rights date back to the Middle Ages, and thus the Hauptkerwe sees itself as a continuation of a long tradition of markets, church consecration festivals, and public entertainment.
Festival Grounds, Tent, and Amusement Park
The venue for the Kerwe is the festival grounds in the town center. A large festival tent, a stage, and several amusement rides and stalls are set up there – from carousels and bumper cars to a smaller version of the Ferris wheel, from shooting galleries and lottery stalls to the classic candy stand with candied almonds and gingerbread. A flea market with regional traders is also part of it.
Kerwe Customs
The Palatinate Kerwe customs are at the center: Opening on Friday evening with tapping of the first beer barrel, dance evenings with regionally known bands, Sunday the big Kerwe parade with the Kerweborsch, the Kerwerede by the Kerweparrer (Kerwe priest), decorated floats, brass bands, and clubs, plus a morning pint, family afternoon, and senior citizens' afternoon. On Tuesday evening, the Kerwe is ceremonially buried according to old custom.
Winnweiler Municipality
The municipality of Winnweiler comprises about a dozen local communities in the northwest of the Donnersberg district, including Falkenstein, Imsbach, Schweisweiler, and Wartenberg-Rohrbach. The Hauptkerwe in Winnweiler is therefore also a social meeting point for the entire municipality, complemented by numerous smaller village Kerwen throughout the year.
Winnweiler Hauptkerwe — edition 2026
The 2026 Hauptkerwe uses the classic Palatinate Kerwe weekend around the second Sunday in September, which falls on September 13th in 2026. This creates the traditional festival framework from Friday to Tuesday.
The exact 2026 program will be published by the municipality of Winnweiler in early summer. The structure follows the proven key points of previous years.
Programme Winnweiler Hauptkerwe 2026
Preliminary Program Structure 2026
The exact 2026 program will be published by the organizer in the summer. The structure follows the proven key points of previous years:
- Friday, September 11: Kerwe opening in the evening with beer tapping by the mayor, festival in the tent with a live band or DJ, opening of the amusement rides.
- Saturday, September 12: Flea market and amusement park during the day, large dance or party evening in the festival tent in the evening.
- Sunday, September 13 (Hauptkerwe Day): Festival service, morning pint with brass music, in the afternoon the traditional Kerwe parade through the town center with Kerweborsch, Kerwerede, clubs, music bands, and decorated floats. Festival continues until late at night.
- Monday, September 14: Family and children's afternoon with reduced prices on amusement rides, senior citizens' afternoon in the festival tent.
- Tuesday, September 15: Last festival day, festival continues, and in the late evening, a symbolic Kerwe burial or Kerwe burning.
Detailed schedules and band names will be announced via the VG Winnweiler website, regional press, and local notices.
Highlights Winnweiler Hauptkerwe 2026
- Five days of Hauptkerwe with festival tent and amusement park
- Kerwe parade on Sunday afternoon with Kerwerede and clubs
- Morning pint with brass music on Sunday morning
- Family and senior citizens' afternoon on Monday
- Flea market with regional traders
Prices Winnweiler Hauptkerwe 2026
Practical information — Winnweiler Hauptkerwe
Getting There
Winnweiler is located on the B48 between Kaiserslautern and Kirchheimbolanden in the Donnersberg district. It is very well accessible via the A63 (Winnweiler exit). Winnweiler train station is on the Kaiserslautern – Bingen line with regional trains. During the Kerwe, signposted festival ground parking spaces are available.
Admission
Admission to the festival grounds, the flea market, and the amusement rides is free. Food, drinks, and individual rides are subject to a charge.
Opening Hours
Festival tent and amusement park are usually open from Friday and Saturday evenings until late at night, all day Sunday, and during the day and evening on Monday and Tuesday.
Information
Current program and exact dates on the website of the Winnweiler municipality under Events / Kerwe and Markets.
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