Drifting fest features old craftsmanship, entertainment

The annual drifting fest in the Leinbach Valley between Frankenstein and Waldleiningen will take place Sunday. The Otterberg forestry office and the communities of Hochspeyer, Frankenstein and Waldleiningen will sponsor, in cooperation with local associations, the annual “Triftfest” from
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Biedenbacher Woog (pond).

Besides enjoying an attractive entertainment program for young and old, visitors can experience how logging and the drifting of timber worked about 160 years ago. Drifting timber is the transportation of wood over water.

At 1:30 and 3 p.m., visitors can watch demonstrations on logging using horses and how the wood was transported on creeks through the Leinbach Valley about 160 years ago. Organizers will show how the use of working horses in wooded and agricultural areas is still being maintained.

Like in recent years, children can have fun in participating in a duck race and watching the work of beekeepers.

Guided hikes to the rocks called Atlasfelsen and Hinkelfelsen as well as a goat hike will start at 9:30 a.m. at the Protestant church in Frankentstein. The hike will go along Frankenstein Castle, then onto a hiking path to Leinbach Valley to the Biedenbacher pond, where members of local associations will serve grilled game specialties, Palatinate delicacies, beverages, coffee and homemade cake.

The Biedenbacher Woog is located between Frankenstein and Waldleiningen. Visitors can get there by foot, bicycle, on horse, or in carriages. It is not possible to drive to the fest area in privately owned vehicles.

A shuttle service will be available for a small fee. Shuttles will leave from Frankenstein at various times from the train station, Goebelsplatz, Alter Postplatz and Biedenbacher Woog. In  Waldleininingen, the shuttle stop will be at the parking lot near the cemetery. There will be signs leading to the parking lots and the shuttle stops.

For more information and directions, visit www.hochspeyer.de.