Carnival time in K-Town

***image1***Kaiserslautern’s traditional “Maikerwe,” or May carnival, starts tonight on the Messeplatz fairgrounds. The event, which runs through June 2, is known as the biggest of its kind in the Westpfalz area.

More than 140 ride owners and vendors are available for 11 days to offer their attractions, merchandise and food specialties.

The opening ceremony with the tapping of the first keg of beer takes place at 6 p.m. today on the patio of the bistro tent. As soon as it gets dark, there will be a fireworks display.

The carnival offers a variety of rides for adults and children. The nostalgic Ferris wheel “Moulin Rouge,” which is 50 meters high, provides a good view over the city and the Palatinate Forest. It has a special cabin for wheel chair drivers. Also 50 meters tall is the Free Fall Tower, where people are supposed to get the ultimate kick. Boats are racing on the wild-water rafting facility, “Wild n’ Wet.” Turning, swinging and flying is offered on “Taiga-Jet” and “Break Dance.”

The crystal palace, a labyrinth made of glass, offers fun and the chance to get lost. In the Bavarian Fun House visitors can show their skills, for example in a rolling barrel. Magicians, illusionists and jugglers present their magic show in the
“Revue of Illusions.”

Children can have fun with skills games and taking rides in miniscooters and merry-go-rounds. The skills booths offer archery, fishing or throwing cans.
The “shopping street” offers shopping fun by vendors presenting a variety of merchandise to include clothes, household items, leather goods, jewelry, spices, arts and crafts items.

Beer gardens, the chicken tent and the bistro and wine tent lure hungry and thirsty visitors.

Palatinate and international culinary specialties such as crispy chicken, ham hocks, crepes, pizza and fish are also available at the food booths.

Wednesday is family day with reduced prices on rides and special offers in the shopping street until 7 p.m.

The carnival ends with a final fireworks display after dark June 2.

Maikerwe is open from noon to midnight each day, and until 1 a.m. Saturdays. Some food booths and vendors open at 11 a.m.