Zwiefachentag in Hemau

A Day for a Merry Dance

The Zwiefachen is a folk dance with a constantly changing rhythm – sometimes waltz, sometimes Dreher – which demands special musical attention and is deeply rooted in the Upper Palatinate tradition. The Zwiefachentag focuses on this »merry thing« for a whole day. It is organized by the cultural and heritage preservation department of the district of Upper Palatinate as part of the project »…da rührt se wos – The Upper Palatinate and its Zwiefachen«.

Return to the Place of Origin, Hemau

After the Zwiefachentag has travelled through all the districts of the Upper Palatinate, it returns to Hemau in the district of Regensburg in 2026 – the town where it first took place in 2018. This closes a circle: Hemau is considered the starting point of the now-established event series.

Participate Instead of Just Watching

The Zwiefachentag is deliberately designed to be participatory. In the Zehentstadel, Zwiefachen for guitar, accordion, string instruments, zither, and wind instruments are taught during the day; there are also singing and dance courses. Lectures provide a cultural-historical context for the Zwiefachen – from the once little-valued »country music« to intangible cultural heritage. Admission is free.

From the Zehentstadel to the Pubs

In the evening, the event moves to the pubs of Hemau: with live music, the audience moves from one venue to another and dances along. This mixture of workshop character during the day and convivial pub dancing in the evening makes the Zwiefachentag a vibrant piece of lived folk culture in Bavaria.