European Folk Festival next weekend

Once again in July, the town of  Bitburg will become the site of a famous international festival – the European Folk Festival.The three-day event is scheduled for July 11 to 14 and will feature numerous highlight activities. According to organizers, more than 60,000 visitors are expected to join in on the fun.

More than 30 folk-dancing and music groups from 11 different countries and two
continents will perform original dances and music. Entertainment will start at
8 p.m. July 11 with a concert for the younger crowds, featuring rock music in the festival tent. Entry to the concert is €10.

The city will welcome folk-dancing groups at 10 a.m. July 12 on Postvorplatz, the pedestrian area in front of Bitburg’s main post office. Groups will introduce themselves with traditional  music tunes and folk dances. A popular and fun-to-watch event starts at 2:30 p.m. July 12 when teams will meet on Trierer-
strasse to hustle 50-liter beer barrels down a 100-meter course. Winners will be honored at the tent after the contest.

 A children’s folk festival is scheduled for 3 p.m. July 12 at the festival tent. Starting at 8 p.m. July 12, participating folk groups from all over Europe, China and Venezuela will march into the tent and assemble for dance performances. Folk dances and music will also ccur at 9 p.m. July 12 in front of the post office and on
Petersplatz.

Activities will continue at 11 a.m. July 13 with an early-morning concert by the Bitburg City Music Association on Petersplatz. Folk dances and music will also occur at 11 a.m. in front of the post office.

The highlight of the European Folk festival is always a parade through the streets of Bitburg. The parade will start at 2:30 p.m. July 13. Roads within the center of the city will be blocked off for traffic.

Music and folk dances will begin at 4 p.m. at the tent and more folk dances will
follow at 9 p.m. in the area in front of the post office and on Petersplatz. A Caribbean Night is scheduled for 8 p.m. July 13 at the tent. Entry is €3.

At 8 p.m. July 14, an inter-national dance evening and get-together will start at the tent. Music will be provided by The Coronation Brass Caerphilly Band. More folk dancing performances and dance music will last until late in the evening. 

Bitburg invites its American neighbors to the festivities. This is a very popular event and a great opportunity for Americans to experience European culture.