fair
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fair
A public fair with rides such as carousels and Ferris wheels, shooting galleries, and food stalls, usually held once a year.
Am Wochenende gehen wir mit den Kindern auf die Kirmes und essen Zuckerwatte.
At the weekend, we're going to the fair with the children and eating cotton candy.
church fair
The traditional annual festival commemorating the consecration of a church, often connected with a fair.
In unserem Dorf wird die Kirmes noch mit einem feierlichen Gottesdienst eröffnet.
In our village, the church fair is still opened with a solemn church service.
The word 'Kirmes' is a shortened form of 'Kirchweihmesse' (church consecration mass). This explains its original meaning as a festival for the consecration of a church and its connection to a fair.
Früher war die Kirmes ein rein religiöses Fest.
In the past, the fair was a purely religious festival.
The preposition 'auf' is used. For direction, you use the accusative ('auf die Kirmes gehen' — to go to the fair); for location, the dative ('auf der Kirmes sein' — to be at the fair).
Freust du dich auch schon darauf, auf die Kirmes zu gehen?
Are you already looking forward to going to the fair too?
With 'Kirmes' as a public fair, typical associations are 'Fahrgeschäfte' (rides), 'Zuckerwatte' (cotton candy), 'gebrannte Mandeln' (candied almonds), a 'Riesenrad' (Ferris wheel), or a 'Schießbude' (shooting gallery).
Meine kleine Schwester wollte unbedingt mit dem Karussell auf der Kirmes fahren.
My little sister really wanted to ride the carousel at the fair.
The term 'Kirmes' is especially common in western and central Germany. In other German-speaking regions, other terms are often used for similar public fairs.
In unserem rheinischen Dorf ist die Kirmes das größte Ereignis des Jahres.
In our village in the Rhineland, the fair is the biggest event of the year.
fair / public festival
Volksfest is the broader term for a large public event with entertainment, music, or rides. Kirmes refers to a particular form, usually held annually, with carousels, stalls, and food stands. A Kirmes can therefore also be a Volksfest.
Die jährliche Kirmes bietet wieder Karussells, Schießbuden und Essensstände.
The annual fair once again features carousels, shooting galleries, and food stalls.
Das große Volksfest bietet mehrere Tage lang Musik, Essen und Fahrgeschäfte.
The large public festival offers music, food, and rides for several days.
