- The sand kerva's main attraction lies in its fishing activities.
It's all about the Bamberg Sandkerwa's main event: The classic Fischerstechen on the Regnitz. On this traditional event, competitors aim to dodge falling into the river. Sunday afternoon is expected to draw a large crowd to the riverbank to witness the show.
According to custom, the Fischerstechen can be traced back to the 15th century. People take turns standing in their boats, trying to shove each other into the water using long poles.
The Sandkerwa kicked off last Thursday - as it usually does for a Franconian Kerwa. In reality, the Sandkerwa isn't a folk festival, but a church celebration. It commemorates the dedication of the St. Elisabeth church in the Sand district. In 1951, the Bürger Verein 4. District launched the Sandkerwa as a community church event. Over time, this event has gained popularity well beyond the boundaries of Bamberg. The celebrations continue until Monday, filling the narrow streets of the old town with festivities, offering a glimpse of the old fisherman's quarter, Klein-Venedig.
The rules for the Fischerstechen have evolved over the years, and it was decided that the following shall be added: a time limit for each round to ensure fairness and excitement. To further enhance the spectacle, additional floats and musicians will be incorporated into the boats during the annual competition.
