Customs - Lower Franconia's biggest folk festival begins
With a tapping of the first keg by Oberburgermeister Christian Schuchardt (CDU), Unterfranken's largest folk festival, Kiliani, begins in the evening. The organizers expect hundreds of thousands of visitors once again. Tents, booths, and rides are open until July 21. On Saturday, a parade of traditional costumes with thousands of participants is scheduled to pass through the city center to the festival grounds on the Main, accompanied by dance groups and music bands.
Kiliani is one of the most significant folk festivals in Bavaria. In the tent, a show and music program invites participation. Approximately 800,000 people come to the festival each year, according to the city. A liter of beer in the tent costs 12.90 Euro.
The two-week festival is one of the annual celebrations in honor of Saint Kilian. The wandering bishop is the patron saint of Franconia. In addition to the folk festival, a pilgrimage week with a relic procession, services, and youth program takes place.
The festivities remind us of the Irish monks Kilian, Kolonat, and Totnan, who brought the Christian faith to Franconia in the 7th century. The festivities always take place on Saint Kilian's name day, July 8. The traditions have a long history.
The main stage for the folk festival is located under a large marquee, providing shelter for performances and musical acts. The municipality of Würzburg ensures that the Folk festival's customs are preserved and celebrated each year. Visitors can enjoy various rides, including a Ferris wheel and a chain carousel, adding to the excitement of the festival. After the parade, attendees can relax in the beer tent, which remains open throughout the festival duration.
