Unterwegs – July 25, 2025

KERWE (VILLAGE FEST)

JULY/AUG., VARIOUS DATES/LOCATIONS

During the summer and early fall months, almost every town or village celebrates its “Kerwe”, a dialect version of “Kirchweih”. Originally these fests were celebrated when a church was consecrated. Throughout time, the festivals have developed into cheerful town or village events where friends, neighbors, relatives and new town residents meet and have a good time together, usually with plenty of food, drink and live music. In most towns village youth bind the traditional “Kerwestrauss,” a pole decorated with colored ribbons mounted at the local Gasthaus. Part of the tradition is speeches about local scandals, gossip and funny events. Some villages also have parades on Sunday. Upcoming fests: Obermohr July 25, Weltersbach Aug: 9, Mehlingen Aug 15. Schrollbach Aug. 15, Alsenborn Aug. 30.

Also watch for signs/posters in individual towns.

SUNDAY STROLL MEHLINGER HEIDE

JULY 27, 11 A.M., ENTRANCE MEHLINGER HEIDE (ACROSS SUPERMARKET), MEHLINGEN

Enjoy a leisurely stroll during the best time of year! The Heather should be in full bloom, and you’ll have a great view up to Donnersberg. Mehlinger Heide is one of the largest heather fields in southern Germany and was once a French/U.S. maneuver site brought to new life. For details, also visit: https://www.kaiserslauternamerican.com/abc-in-kmc-mehlinger-heide/ The guided tour will be in German, but even if you don’t get every word, the premises and its history are well worth a visit. Visitors are advised of the following: Wear sturdy footwear. Tours will not take place in the event of persistent rain or dangerous weather. Please bring a hat and sufficient water.  The tours are only suitable for sure-footed people, very difficult for strollers. Further dates: Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31, always at 11 a.m.

SCHLABBEFLICKERFESTIVAL (SHOEMAKER FEST)

AUG. 1 -3, CITY CENTER, PIRMASENS

Three days, three locations, and more than 60 hours of live music, spectacular art performances, hands-on activities, and, of course, a musical spectacle: that’s the Pirmasens Schlabbeflicker Festival. Celebrate to your heart’s content on the Exeplatz, Münzplatz, and Schlossplatz squares. Numerous bands, duos, and soloists, DJs, and a gospel choir will provide the perfect sound. Bahnhofstrasse will become a large children’s mile, and Schlossplatz will become an open-air studio. On Sunday, shops will be open from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and a free shuttle bus will serve the Pirmasens shoe outlets. A warm welcome to everyone on the first weekend of August.

SUMMER FOODROCK FESTIVAL 2025

AUG. 8 – 10, stone quarry PICARD/NEAR KRICKENBACH

In 2025, the Foodrock® Festival will enter its fifth year at the Picard natural stone quarry near Krickenbach, taking place for the first time from August 8 to 10. The SUMMER Foodrock open-air festival, centered around rock music from the 70s and 80s and sophisticated dining, has established itself in the Picard natural stone quarry in the heart of the Palatinate Forest. This symbiosis of the finest food, fine wines, and handcrafted drinks, as well as the classic rock music genre, is a unique selling point nationwide! Over three days, food and music lovers of rock music will experience several live concerts, workshops, and Michelin-starred food and drink in a relaxed atmosphere in the Palatinate Forest. Further info: www.foodrock-festival.de

FRENCH GARDEN PARTY

AUG. 9, 6 – 10:30 P.M., GARTENSCHAU, KAISERSLAUTERN

A treat for all lovers of the French way of life. Amidst greenery and summer blossoms, French Touch will enchant their audience with the sounds of tango and musette. Nothing could be more fitting than a picnic with a glass of wine and French delicacies. It’s always fascinating to see the culinary treasures conjured from the picnic baskets! You can also enjoy a fine wine on-site at the Cuvée wine bar and wine shop, as well as delicious tarte flambée fresh from the oven.

COUNT PALATINATE HALL AND

THE SUBTERRANEAN TUNNELS

AUG. 9, 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 visitors descend into the subterranean tunnels. These passages, which are approx. 70 m long, illustrate the history of Kai-sers-lautern. Duration: approx. 1.5 hrs, Price: 7.00 EUR. A registration is required per mail to Touristinformation@kaiserslautern.de or phone +49 (0)631 365 2316. Further date: Sep. 6.

RESIDENZFEST (CITY FESTIVAL)

AUG. 9 – 11, CITY CENTER, KIRCHHEIMBOLANDEN

Kirchheimbolanden invites you to the 73rd Residence Festival, voted as the “Most Beautiful Wine Festival 2017.” This year’s theme is: “Three Summer Days in the Little Residence,” Kirchheimbolanden is full of anticipation and invites you to stop by behind historic walls and towers, in idyllic courtyard arbors. Enjoy various Palatinate specialties and delicacies, as well as an extensive selection of regional and national wines, in the ambiance of nationally renowned and popular Residence Festival. A wide range of music, including plenty of live music, will be offered on all days of the event. Various bands, entertainers, musical duos, and dance ensembles will offer a wide spectrum for young and old. Visitors will also have the opportunity to stroll through the shops on Sunday, enjoying wine and delicacies, as well as shopping.

KELTENDORF IN STEINBACH

SUNDAYS UNTIL OCT. 31, 11 A.M. – 4 P.M., STEINBACH/DONNERSBERG

A visit to the Celtic village in Steinbach AT Donnersberg is like a fascinating journey into the mystical world of the early Donnersberg inhabitants. This small, reconstructed village is more than a museum in the traditional sense. Here, the culture of the Celtic “natives” comes alive. Use all your senses to follow in the footsteps of the people who lived on the Donnersberg more than 2,000 years ago. The complex, built in 2004, was modeled on the floor plans of a Celtic settlement from the second half of the 1st century BC, discovered near Germersheim. The six buildings provide a good impression of the craft techniques used by the Celts to build houses. You can see wooden post and half-timbered structures, constructed with appropriate tenons using traditional timber construction techniques. Wooden shingles were used for the roofing. The facades were plastered with clay. In the Celtic village, guests of all ages can also get hands-on. Learning Celtic craft techniques such as felting, arrow making, and clay bead making complement the guided tour of the village and make the visit a very special excursion into the world of the Celts on Donnersberg.

RHEIN IN FLAMMEN

AUG./SEP., VARIOUS DATES/LOCATIONS, RHEIN RIVER

Enjoy the ‘Rhine in Flames’ Experience! What began a long time ago remains as inextricably linked with the Middle Rhine Valley as its wine: the Rhine in Flames (Rhein in Flammen®) events. These events are essential calendar entries for thousands of people. On five nights between May and September, villages, cultural landscapes, castles and the Rheinanlagen parks shine bright while high-altitude fireworks delight spectators on the river and land alike. The ship convoys are accompanied by the rolling thunder of the magnificent fireworks, whose echoes break in the mountainsides and make the whole valley tremble. Since each of the Rhine in Flames locations have their own unique characteristics, it makes for a special experience multiplied by five. Upcoming events: Spay/Koblenz Aug. 9, Oberwesel Sep. 13, St. Goar Sep. 20. Events are usually booked out early and individual travel difficult, check out local tour operators for options.

DEIDESHEIMER WEINKERWE (WINE FEST)

AUG. 8 – 12/15 – 19, TOWN CENTER, DEIDESHEIM

Deidesheim Wine Festival: A highlight in the Palatinate wine festival calendar! At this special wine festival, wineries open their picturesque courtyards, and Bahnhofstraße becomes the “Woigass,” stretching from the train station to the historic market square. Wine stalls selling wine and regional specialties invite you to linger. Culinary stalls also await you in the town square, and a stage offers a varied musical program. Families will also get their money’s worth: small rides and fairground stalls provide fun and entertainment. Visitors are advised to use public transportation, there will be special trains running to the event.

WEIN & MUSIC IN THE CITY

AUG. 22, 5-12 P.M., CITY CENTER, KAISERSLAUTERN

On Friday and Saturday Kaiserslautern City Management invites you to a wine experience tour, as “Wine & Music” enters its third year. Under the motto “Wine and Enjoyment,” nearly 35 restaurants will be presenting themselves, including open-air venues, offering a fantastic opportunity to get to know their specialties and, above all, sample them.

The wine tour through the city will be atmospherically accompanied by an attractive music program. Visitors can look forward to a rich selection of events at over 15 locations in the city center on both days. There will be live music and DJs both outdoors and in the restaurants: From electronic music to rock and pop to singer-songwriter pieces, there’s something for every taste. A wide range of entertainment will be offered by the “Luther Club Band,” “Jens & Friends” with Sonja Volz, Moabi Village, and Los Cuban Boys, to name just a few. For the first time, SUKURA e.V. will also present its own stage program on Stiftsplatz on both days of the event (Saturday after the weekly market), which will provide one or two musical surprises.

WEINFESTE, BAUERNMARKT UND MEHR (WINE FESTS, FARMERS’ MARKETS AND MORE)

AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER

Mid-August marks the beginning of wine fests and other colorful and exciting activities in the Palatinate region. Some events take place later in the season and run almost up to November. Upcoming Fests: Kallstadt: Aug. 29-Sep. 1, Bad Dürkheim Wurstmarkt: Sep. 12-16, 19-21, Weinlesefest Neustadt: Sep. 27-Oct. 14, Neuer Wein an der Römerkelter (Bad Dürkheim) Sep. 27 – Oct. 6. Stay tuned for further dates and locations to be posted soon.