Unterwegs – January 30, 2026

ROTWEINWANDERUNG (Red Wine Hike)

JAN. 30 – FEB. 1, FREINSHEIM

This year for the first time the Red Wine Hike will take place on two weekends in a row. Fresh air, delicacies and excellent red wines are guaranteed! The event starts with a torchlight parade on Friday evening at 6 p.m. Torches are sold in front of the historic city hall. From there the parade leads to the first booth of the actual hiking trail. The trail has a length of 4.3 miles and leads through the wonderful vineyards of Freinsheim.

Along the loop road, participants can sample selected wines and Glühwein (mulled wine) of the local vintners and enjoy Palatinate specialties offered at 13 stopover points. The booths along the trail are open from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday and from 11.30 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors can easily get to Freinsheim by train, parking in the small town is almost impossible. From the train station, follow the course of Bahnhofstraße.

At the Stadt-Apotheke, turn left into Herxheimer Straße and then take the first right, Friedrich-Bruch-Straße. From Friedrich-Bruch-Straße, continue onto Dackenheimer Straße, passing the kindergarten and the fire station, until you reach the sports field. The path leads directly to an underpass of the bypass road. After passing through, you will immediately reach the starting point of the hike.

FILM MUSIC GALA – WE SING & FRIENDS

JAN. 31, 8 P.M., CONGRESS CENTER RAMSTEIN

The powerful-voiced formation “We Sing & Friends” presents its new program “It‘s Movie Time – die Filmmusik-Gala”. Eleven wonderful singers present songs from films of the last 100 years with a great band. Melodies from “The Three from the Filling Station” to “The Lord of the Rings” through to Disney’s “Frozen”, there is something for everyone. The musicians interpret songs mainly from musical, film and pop genres. But they also perform classical music and French chansons. Solo singing in combination with polyphony creates an entertaining musical evening full of emotion, power and humor. The show starts at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m.

BRASILIANISCHER KARNEVAL – (BRAZILIAN CARNIVAL)

FEB. 7, 8 P.M., FRUCHTHALLE, KAISERSLAUTERN

Carnival in Brazil is one of the biggest parties in the world. After the huge, sold-out success in 2024, there will once again be a “real” Brazilian carnival in the Fruchthalle, featuring Brazilian samba dancers and capoeira performers, musicians, and the singer Vando Oliveira from Rio de Janeiro. As the “Palatinate carnival component,” the renowned cabaret artist Wolfgang Marscgall from the Untiere will give a “blossom speech” on highly topical issues such as immigration and the meeting of different cultures. A costume contest will also take place, and the Fruchthalle’s catering will offer appropriate drinks and snacks.

FLOHMARKT – (FLEA AND ANTIQUE MARKET)

FEB. 7, FORUM, HOMBURG

The flea market in the region was founded in 1975 by the Homburg Advertising Association and has developed into the largest in the Southwest German region. Today, the flea market is organized by Homburger Kultur GmbH. Every first Saturday of the month – on holidays the flea market date is postponed by one week. On peak days in the summer, up to 1,000 vendors offer their goods and attract thousands of visitors to Homburg. The flea market has become the top destination for customers, including those from France, Luxembourg, and Belgium. All of this makes the flea market a tourist attraction. Next dates: March 7, April 11.

KARNEVAL/FASTNACHT/FASCHING

STARTING FEB. 12, GERMANY WIDE

Thursday, Feb. 12. marks the beginning of the Karneval season in Germany. Thursday is referred to as “Altweiberfastnacht” (old wives’ Fastnacht), where witches steal the keys to the city hall and take over command for the weekend. There are celebrations throughout the weekend and the festival culminates on “Faschingsdienstag” (Shrove Tuesday), as Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent.

The largest parades take place on Rose Monday, Feb. 16 in the city centers: Köln/Cologne, 10:00 a.m., Düsseldorf, 12.30 a.m., Mainz, 11:11 a.m., Aachen, 11:11 a.m., Stuttgart, 12:00 a.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 17, Ramstein-Miesenbach, Westricher Fastnacht, at 2:00 p.m., with 30,000 spectators and KMC participation expected. Please note that roads in the city center of Ramstein will be blocked off for traffic from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Visitors are advised to come early, park out as far as possible and walk to the event.

TRUE COLLINS – EUROPE’S GREATEST PHIL COLLINS SHOW

FEB. 28, 8 P.M., STADTHALLE, LANDSTUHL

Experience Europe’s largest PHIL COLLINS SHOW and let yourself be swept away by the unforgettable hits of Phil Collins and Genesis. This spectacular show offers an incredible likeness to the original and brings the legendary world hits and emotions of the British superstar to the stage in an impressive way. Enjoy a fantastic sound and light show that makes the experience even more intense and perfectly captures the atmosphere of a real Phil Collins concert. With classics like “In the Air Tonight,” “Another Day in Paradise,” “Land of Confusion,” or “No Son of Mine,” TRUE COLLINS ensures that every song is brought to life to perfection. Be part of it and let yourself be enchanted by this unique tribute to Phil Collins and Genesis.

COUNT PALATINATE HALL AND THE SUBTERRANEAN TUNNELS

MARCH 7, 11:15 A.M., TOURIST INFO, KAISERSLAUTERN

The tour starts in the Count Palatinate Hall of the former Casimir Castle, where official receptions of the city are held today. Afterwards you descend into the subterranean tunnels. These passages, which are approx. 70 m long, illustrates the history of Kaiserslautern. Meeting Point: Tourist Information, Fruchthallstr. 14, duration: approx. 1.5 hours. A registration is required per mail to Touristinformation@kaiserslautern.de or phone +49 (0)631 365 2316

10th HINKELSTEIN-WANDER-MARATHON/TRAIL

MARCH 29/VARIOUS TIMES, OTTERBERG

Registration now open: With the first rays of spring sunshine, hiking enthusiasts and trail running fans can prove their early-season fitness March 29, and look forward to an exciting outdoor event at the “10th Hinkelstein Hiking Marathon / Trail.” In close proximity to the impressive abbey church, with the start and finish at the town hall in Otterberg, the varied route follows the certified Hinkelstein Trail.

In addition to natural forest paths and stretches across open fields, past historic boundary stones, menhirs, and idyllic ponds, the trail offers attractive landscapes and breathtaking views, including of Donnersberg, the highest mountain in the Palatinate.

Whether at a moderate or brisk hiking pace, or possibly even faster – for the marathon distance, hikers and trail runners have a total of around 42 kilometers and 500 meters of elevation to cover. For hikers, an optional half-marathon distance of about 22 kilometers and 200 meters of elevation is also offered. The start times are from 7:30 to 8:00 AM for the marathon, from 8:00 to 9:00 AM for the half marathon, and from 9:00 to 9:30 AM for the trail.

The route is consistently marked and signposted, and along the way, various refreshment stations and check points are set up for all participants. The organizer of the hiking marathon and trail is the Verbandsgemeinde Otterbach-Otterberg, supported by the tourism offices of Winnweiler and Enkenbach-Alsenborn.

The registration portal is open: https://www.otterbach-otterberg.de/tourismus-freizeit/wandern/hinkelsteinweg/hinkelstein wandermarathon-trail/.