OKTOBERKERWE
OCT. 18–28, MESSEPLATZ, KAISERSLAUTERN
Visit the largest fair in the region and enjoy turbulent rides and live music in several tents. Food, beverages, games, sweets and fun for the whole family. Wednesday is family day with reduced prices, shops are open for Sunday shopping on Oct. 20. The fair will end with fireworks on Monday, Oct. 28 at about 9:30 p.m.
FEST DES FEDERWEISSEN
UNTIL OCT. 20, RATHAUSPLATZ/CITY CENTER, LANDAU
The oldest festival dedicated to new wine will take place in the heart of Landau. What the Oktoberfest is to Munich and the Wurstmarkt to Bad Dürkheim, the Federweisser festival is to Landau! The festival hosts six wine booths, which only offer wines from Landau wineries. More than 30 snack and specialty stands complete the festival offering and offer a wide range of unusual dishes in addition to typical Palatinate specialties such as onion cake, tarte flambée, chestnuts and steamed dumplings.
HALLOWEEN AT EIFELPARK
OCT. 18–27, 10 A.M.–5 P.M./EVENING, EIFELPARK/GONDORF
Over a thousand pumpkins and wonderfully gory decorations make a visit to the Eifel Park a spooky autumn treat! FiLu and Mr. Baldo: “There’s something spooky here…”: A wonderfully funny show for the whole family! And, fearless ghost hunters will be on the move throughout the Eifel Park. On Saturdays and Sundays, a life-sized 4.50-meter long dino will stomp through the park, visitors can watch Russfuss Zitterbein on stilts, but should be beware of Grim Reaper Todd, a three-legged creature. There will be a puppet theater, pumpkin carving, Halloween face painting with all attractions open until 5 p.m. On Oct. 18, 19, 25 and 26, the attractions will be extended until the evening hours. Don’t miss out on the spooky fun!
ONE NIGHT OF ELTON JOHN
OCT. 19, 7:30 P.M., FRITZ-WUNDERLICH-HALLE, KUSEL
So many hits, so wonderful melodies – Sir Elton John has made many generations happy with his songs. He withdrew from the stage this year with a pompous world tour. But his live music lives on – thanks to such talented tribute bands like Eltonology. The band Eltonology brings original pieces to the stage in an elaborate and flashy live show, including spectacular stage outfits and the crazy glasses with which Elton John has always thrilled and made headlines. Tickets: www.ticket-regional.de
DEUTSCH-FRANZÖSISCHER BAUERNMARKT
(GERMAN-FRENCH FARMERS’ MARKET)
OCT. 20, 11 A.M.–6 P.M., TOWN CENTER, MAIKAMMER/WEINSTRASSE
Enjoy fresh cheese products with an original French baguette, immerse yourself in the market with its diverse aromas or simply cultivate the “savior vivre” in the town center with a glass of wine. At the event, 40 producers from two nature parks of the Palatinate Forest and the Northern Vosges will present their environmentally friendly products such as ham, sausage, meat, fish, cheese, jam, honey, juice, organic wine and sparkling wine.
HERBSTMESSE (AUTUMN FAIR)
OCT. 25–NOV. 6, FESTPLATZ/SPEYER
The festival site will transform into a colorful trade fair hustle and bustle. In addition to the large number of rides, visitors can expect a wealth of culinary offerings. Experience a family-friendly ride on the Ferris wheel. The round rides and automatic scooter offer driving fun for young and old. If you’re looking for a thrill, try a ride on the high-rise attraction. In addition to numerous booths that make children’s hearts beat faster, an amusement facility will ensure lots of fun and a good mood. There are also many opportunities to put your skills to the test at the many ball/dart throwing, lottery and ring throwing booths or with fishing games and shooting carts. Beer gardens and snack bars invite you to linger. For dessert, there are sweets, ice cream and crepe carts with plenty of options for snacking.
TIME CHANGE
OCT. 26, 2 A.M., GERMANY/EUROPE-WIDE
Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour to regular Central European Time.
HALLOWEEN AT BURG SATZVEY
OCT. 26, 3 P.M./6 P.M., CASTLE SATZVEY, MECHERNICH/EIFEL
Ghostly creatures will crawl out of every corner of the extensive castle grounds and terrify anyone who approaches. A particular horror highlight is the course of terror in the dark castle park – definitely not for the faint-hearted! This year a new child-friendly program for families will start at 3:00 p.m. Those who stay longer can go into the castle park from 5:00 p.m. But be careful, dark figures and monsters will soon be leaving their hiding places. From 6:00 p.m. the spooky ferryman will silently greet his guests on the castle lake – goory figures will terrify many a visitor. Who dares to enter the castle courtyard, which lies eerily in the twilight? A course of terror awaits the particularly brave. Those who dare can go in, but will you be able to get out again? The entrance opens at 7:00 p.m., while the disco starts at 10:00 p.m. Costumes are welcome! Details: https://www.burgsatzvey.de/veranstaltungen/halloween-2024-1/
WENDELINUSMARKT (HARVEST MARKET)
OCT. 27, 11 A.M.–6 P.M., RAMSTEIN
Enjoy a colorful farmers’ and autumn market in the city center of Ramstein. Get into the swing of late fall.
HALLOWEEN AT THE ZOO
OCT. 31, 5 P.M.–8:30 P.M., ZOO SIEGELBACH
Who has the courage to enter the “house of horrors?” Who is brave enough to encounter the “monsters of the sky?” Who is courageous enough to watch the “feeding of the dwarves and giants?” Afterwards all young and older visitors are invited to a “creepy dinner!”
SAMHAIN FESTIVAL
OCT. 31, KELTENDORF, STEINBACH (DONNERSBERG)
The Celtic village in Steinbach will top off the season with a traditional Samhaim festival. The event has its origins 2,000 years ago and marks the end of the year and beginning of winter. Celts then ate, drank and celebrated the occasion together. The village will offer displays, bonfires, activities for kids and a walk with torches to the circle of spooky Celtic statues at the garden nearby, where guests will receive information about Celtic traditions at the large bonfire. Don’t miss out on this very special and different “Halloween” event. Visitors are requested to carpool, as parking is limited in the small village. For details, see: http://www.keltendorf-steinbach.de/
ALLERHEILIGEN (ALL SAINTS‘ DAY)
NOV. 1, PUBLIC HOLIDAY IN RHEINLAND-PFALZ/SAARLAND
Friday, Nov 1, is a public holiday with a religious background. All stores and offices will be closed to observe the occasion in Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Please note that there is no holiday in Hessen and Berlin. The northern states and Hessen observe Reformation Day on Thursday, Oct 31 as a public holiday.