Christmas market in forest offers organic products, trees

The forestry information center House of Sustainability, located at Johanniskreuzer Strasse 1, 67705 Trippstadt, invites visitors to a “Romantic Christmas in the forest” from 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

A unique Christmas market will be set up in the midst of forest scenery, surrounded by torches and campfires. More than 70 stands will form an organic market highlighting the Christmas tree from the forest master, venison from the local forest, and arts and crafts made of wood and other natural materials.

Vendors will offer spicy food delicacies such as trout, venison, chestnut bratwurst, mushrooms, potato dumplings, goat cheese and pea soup. Sweet treats include crepes, Christmas cookies and chocolate products. There also will be vendors selling arts and crafts items typical for the region of the biosphere reserve of Palatinate Forest-North Vosges. Products include wooden jewelry, leather purses, brooms, sandstone sculptures, woolen items, candles, pottery and wooden nativity scenes.

Visitors will be able to taste organic gluehwein and buy liquors, schnapps and whiskey. Those interested can buy their Christmas tree and game for the Christmas dinner right here from the forest master.

Children can enjoy pony rides, crafting and a merry-go-round. Fire dancers are scheduled to perform at 7 p.m. Saturday. Musicians with brass instruments and alphorns will provide the musical entertainment.

Since there is not sufficient parking, visitors are asked to take the shuttle bus, Luchs-Bus, that leaves the main Kaiserslautern train station, Stelzenberg and Trippstadt every 15 minutes starting at 1:20 p.m. Saturday and 9:20 a.m. Sunday. For a detailed bus schedule, visit www.hdn-pfalz.de/index.php?id=79 and click on “Luchs-Bus” in the right column.

Those coming by car need to obey the changed traffic routing and follow the signs.