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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.
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.
TRUE COLLINS – EUROPES 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.
GERMAN-AMERICAN
FRIENDSHIP CONCERT
MARCH 7, 7:30 P.M., FRUCHTHALLE, KAISERS-LAUTERN
The U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz announces that the annual German-American Friendship Concert with the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Band was postponed and has been rescheduled to March 7, 2026. The date for free ticket distribution at the German-American Citizen Office in Rathaus-Nord Kaiserslautern will be announced in due time. Admission is free with a ticket.
10TH HINKELSTEIN-WANDERMARATHON/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/
