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Kaiserslautern’s annual Barbarossa-Fest, called “Swinging Lautern,” started Thursday and will continue today and Saturday. The City of Kaiserslautern sponsors the event in cooperation with local stores and businesses, all members of the “Kaiser in Lautern” sales promotion agency. The festival features live performances on open-air stages at Altenhof, Schillerplatz, Stiftsplatz and in front of Stiftskirche.
“We are happy to be able to celebrate the fest for the 10th time,” said Volker Stephan, “Kaiser in Lautern” chairman. “The successful fest is an inherent part of our local event calendar. It offers an international music program consisting of swing, blues, boogie, jazz, soul and salsa combined with a nice atmosphere.”
“Swinging Lautern” will begin at 11 a.m. today with marching bands walking through the center of town. The U.S. Air Forces in Europe band Check Six will play from noon to 3 p.m. in front of Stiftskirche. Other bands performing in the afternoon include Boogie, Duo, The Easy Swing Big Band of Emmerich-Smola-Music School, Le Millery’s Jazz Band from France, and Terrence Ngassa & Band.
At night, Volker Klimmer Swingtet, Palatina Washboard Jazzband, Tin Pan Alley’s Blues Band, Brassmachine, and Smitty & Band will entertain the audience on different stages.
On Saturday, the musical performances will start at 11 a.m. with the USAFE band Wings of Dixie playing until 1 p.m. at the stage on Altenhof, Harald & Walt performing from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of Stiftskirche, and the Swingduo Cafe Chez Nous entertaining until 2 p.m. on the Stiftsplatz stage.
The Big Band of Fachhochschule, the Swinging Fundus Jazzband, and Cindy Berger & Winterstein will be in charge of the afternoon entertainment.
Highlights at night will include the Swinging Fireballs performing on the Altenhof stage from 7 to 11 p.m. as well as Harald Krüger & Band taking on the stage from 8 to 11 p.m. at Schillerplatz.
“Besides all these musical goodies, our event also features culinary specialties and interesting activities to include fashion shows,” said Dr. Klaus Weichel, Kaiserslautern’s lord mayor. “I invite everybody to enjoy Barbarossa-Fest and have fun.”
Fashion shows will show off fall and winter clothing trends at 5 and 7 p.m. today and 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Saturday on Riesenstrasse, next to the ball fountain.
Stores will provide special attractions, such as cooking demonstrations, a book market, a vehicle display, information stands, and food and wine tasting.
Children can take a ride on the fairytale merry-go-round on Markstrasse and enjoy a jumping castle, balloons and face painting on Fackelstrasse. The Siegelbach Zoo will set up a petting zoo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday on Unionstrasse. A kiddie train will offer children free rides through the city center. The train stops can be found on Marktstrasse (Pallmannstore) today, and Riesenstrasse (Erika leather store) Saturday.
Just like last year, visitors will be able to buy buttons created by the sales promotion agency to show their support for “Swinging Lautern.” Buttons cost €2 and are available at the “Kaiser in Lautern” stand on Schillerplatz, in the tourist information office on Fruchthallstrasse and at all catering stands.
A pocket brochure listing the entertainment program is available at the Kaiserslautern Tourist Information Office, in stores and restaurants, or at www.kaiserslautern.de or www.werbegemeinschaft-kl.de.
