Folk festival fans have four days to recover after the last Sunday of Oktoberfest. Then it’s “from the Oktoberfest to the west” and “Off to the Gersthofen Kirchweih!” And this year it offers plenty of news and highlights! For the first time, a beer tent with a total capacity of 1,700 people will be celebrating its premiere on the new festival site – located parallel to the B2. The professional team for the revitalization of the Gersthofen Kirchweih includes the Riegele brewery, the three movers and shakers from the management of Bob’s Gastronomy: Stefan “Bob” Meitinger, Christian Killisperger and Christian Ress. The marquee is completed by Gersthofer veteran Bernhard Happacher. The duo “Bernhard & Bob” also gave the name to the “Habo’s Festschänke” in the central nave, the heart of the hearty Bavarian party. There are also seven cozy boxes available, each offering space for 25 to 50 guests.
For wine lovers, there is the rustic wine bar with a ski hut look – and if that’s not enough, you can climb onto the wheat beer carousel in the back area of the tent.
The stage program also looks traditional, but in typical “Bob’s style” promisingly different. It starts with free beer serving, blessing and official tapping on October 11th from 5 p.m.
In the evening, the Gersthofen town band and the band “The Jam’son” kick off a brilliant week of festivals. From the Oktoberfest party band “Albfetza” (Saturday, October 12th) to an exuberant Italian evening with top entertainer Domenico Salerno (Monday, October 14th) to folk rock hits like the “Mountain Crew” (October 18th ) or “Heavy Volxmusik” by the “Troglauer” (October 21st) – and all of this alternating with traditional bands such as the Musikverein Batzenhofen or the Trachtenkapelle Hirblingen – this line up is sure to delight a wide variety of tastes. The complete program is available online www. kirchweih-gersthofen.de/programm.
Gersthofer Kirchweih: Qualification on penalties in 2025
Of course, visitors can also look forward to a colorful mix of rides and attractions as well as culinary delights, from hearty Bavarian delicacies and Steckerlfisch to freshly baked crepes and sweet tree striezel.
The view over the festival grounds from the Ferris wheel is just as much a part of the family-friendly offer as a fast ride on the bumper car. For the little visitors there is the lovingly designed children’s carousel and nostalgic fans will go into raptures at the “Bavaria Dance Hupferl”.
The qualification for the official German penalty shootout championship 2025, which will be held as part of the penalty festival, “powered by Bob’s and Radio Fantasy”, offers pure sporting pleasure and excitement.
The preliminary rounds will take place on October 14th, 16th and 18th, 2024. Each club is allowed to enter up to three teams, each with a minimum of five and a maximum of eleven players. Participation is free. The game is played in the classic format: each team has five shooters and a goalkeeper. After five shots, a shoot-out will decide if there is a tie. The best teams in each preliminary round secure a place in the grand final and have the opportunity to win attractive prizes for their club coffers.
But the penalty kick tournament is not just for club players, hobby footballers also get their money’s worth. From the Gastro Cup to the Hobby Cup and a special children’s tournament, there is something for everyone. Under kirchweih-gersthofen.de/
11-meter/registration/ Football enthusiasts can register for their preferred tournament until the start of the fair.
Also read: Fuggerstadt Classic: Anniversary rally with 117 “old beauties”
