K-town’s Barbarossa Fest next weekend

For the sixth time, Kaiserslautern celebrates its annual Barbarossa fest under the motto “Swinging Lautern” Thursday through Sept. 6. In cooperation with the city of Kaiserslautern, local stores and businesses, which established the sales promotion agency “Kaiser in Lautern,” sponsor the event that features an international musical program with swing, blues, boogie, jazz, soul and salsa, various activities, attractions and food in the center of town.

***image1***Kaiser in Lautern and the Old Jazz Union present musical highlights on open-air stages at Altenhof, Schillerplatz, in front of Stiftskirche, on Stiftsplatz and in front of Karstadt department store. Marching bands will walk through the streets.

A kiddie train will start driving children through the center at 11 a.m. Thursday. The train stops are in Riesenstrasse (Heil’s men’s wear) Thursday; Markstrasse (Pallmannstore), Sept. 5; and Riesenstrasse (Erika leather store), Sept. 6. Children can also have their faces painted, create plaster masks, let balloons fly and take a ride on the fairy tale merry-go-round.

Visitors can taste all kinds of culinary food specialties from different countries in white pagoda tents around Stiftskirche and at food stands set up on Schillerplatz and Altenhof.

Stores will provide special attractions including a fashion show, car display, cooking demonstrations, a book market and arts and crafts markets.

The official opening of the event is at 6 p.m. Thursday on a stage in front of Stiftskirche.