‘Kaiser in Lautern’ schedules events, activities for new year

Kaiserslautern’s advertising association, called “Kaiser in Lautern,” scheduled a variety of events and activities this year.

Starting Sunday, stores in the center of Kaiserslautern and in the industrial park (Merkurstrasse) will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. Usually, the city offers its first Sunday shopping day in May.

“We are sure that customers like the January Sunday shopping date,” said Alexander Hess, the advertising association’s manager. “It allows them to preview the spring collection and new trends.”

The next event will be “Lautern comes into blossom” on March 20. Stores, vendors and institutions will celebrate the beginning of spring by presenting special offers and activities. Thousands of primroses will be given out to customers throughout the center of town.

Another Sunday shopping day will follow the next day, March 21, and then again on Oct. 17 and Nov. 28.

Children will have control over the city on May 22. “Fun and Action in the City” will be the motto for the children’s fest, which will turn the pedestrian zones into one big playground. During the day, there will be games and activities, such as jumping castles, face paining and a street music contest, available for the children.

Highlights in August will be the fourth Kaiserslautern Classics, in combination with a late shopping night. Customers will be able to shop until midnight Aug. 21 and admire cars, motorcycles, vintage vehicles and learn about automobile history.
The annual Barbarossa fest, “Swinging Lautern,” will be held from Sept. 2 to 4, when the city will turn into a big music stage.

“National and international bands and artists will present swing, blues, boogie, jazz, soul and salsa,” Mr. Hess said. “And shops will have attractive offers for their customers.”

Another highlight this year will be the second Halloween city parade in October. Anybody dressed as a monster, witch or vampire can join the parade consisting of Halloween wagons and walking groups in costumes.

“The reaction of participants and spectators to last year’s Halloween parade was awesome,” Mr. Hess said. “Our Halloween city parade is the biggest event of this kind in Europe, and we are very proud of it.”

All together, the Kaiser in Lautern advertising association tries to present a wide range of traditional and new events to lure all kinds of people to the center of town year-round.

(Courtesy of Kaiser in Lautern)