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by Petra Lessoing
435th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Kaiserslautern’s old part of town – Altstadt – will lure more than 150,000 visitors when it celebrates its annual Altstadtfest July 4 to 6. For three days and two nights, Steinstrasse and its side streets will be one giant open-air area.
Kaiserslautern’s Lord Mayor, Dr. Klaus Weichel, officially opens the event at 7 p.m. July 4 on Stockhausplatz to be followed by a gala and party night with Volker Klimmer Band.
More than 50 bands and artists entertain the audience from Martinsplatz on the bottom of Steinstrasse to Mainzer Tor on top of Steinstrasse. Eight stages are put up where renowned bands such as SheeRocks, Beakers Mum, Swayy, Stephan Flesch and Crime & Passion perform. Also, newcomer bands and artists have the chance to present themselves.
More than 80 national and international vendors present their merchandise such as art and craft items, leather goods, jewelry and clothes in the little side streets.
About 40 restaurant and pub owners located in the Altstadt put up booths and tables and take visitors on a culinary trip throughout the world. Also, the 1. FCK soccer club and the Braves basketball club have booths where members serve food and beverages.
The medieval group Die Legende performs medieval shows on its own stage in Klosterstrasse (next to St. Martin’s Church). July 5 and 6, the group conducts a school lesson like in the Middle Ages for children, and it presents a fakir show. A fire show is on its Friday night program (July 4).
The election of Miss Kaiserslautern 2008 takes place 3 to 5 p.m. July 6 on Unionsplatz.
“The Altstadtfest is a place where people like to meet,” said Alexander Hess, project manager of the office for events in Kaiserslautern. “We are able to present a diversified entertaining program of a high quality again.”
Children are lured to the kids’ paradise with merry-go-round, crafting tent and bounce-a-rama near the stage on Salzstrasse.
The fest is open 3 p.m. July 4 to 1 a.m. July 5; 11 a.m. July 5 to 1 a.m. July 6; and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 6.
For more information on the program, bands and times, pick up the brochure in the Kaiserslautern Tourist Information Office next to the Fruchthalle, in local restaurants or other official institutions.
About 150,000 visitors are expected to join the Altstadt party.
Several streets will be closed to traffic. For details about the fest and parking possibilities, visit www.kaiserslautern.de.
