"Annafest" in Forchheim

http://www.annafest-forchheim.de (German)

Similar to the Bergkirchweih in Erlangen this traditional public fair takes
place every year during the last week in July in Forchheim on the "cellar-hill"
(close to Bamberg).

History:
The origins of the fair are not clear, but three occasions were important:

* On the 26th of July, the name-day of "holy Anna", tutelary Saint of Forchheim, the people of Forchheim went on a pilgrimage
to the Anna-church in Unterweilersbach. On their way home, they had a rest at "cellar-hill" to
have a cold beer.
* From 1840 on the main-shooting of the riflemen's meeting took place on the 26th of. July, close to the "cellar-hill".
* From the time of the Thirty Years' War on (1618-48) more and more cellars
were dug into the rocks, to use the constant temperature of six to ten degrees
centigrade for the storage of beer, wine and food items. From 1722 42 people
owning a cellar were registered, most of them innkeepers and brewers.

Up to 500,000 visitors are attracted to the cellar-hill during the ten days of the festival.
With 30,000 seats there is more space to sit there than at the festival in Erlangen,
(the Bergkirchweih). It is possible to sit and eat in the middle of the forest
and drink your beer. From 1p.m. to 11 p.m. bands play a variety of songs.
Even more: there is a range of different show-booths and fair-attractions.

The best way to get there is by public transport.
The walk from the train station takes about ten minutes.