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Kaiserslautern American
February 8, 2013
Fasching parade routes through Ramstein Tuesday Towns offer special outdoor events, continue celebrations by Petra Lessoing 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Fasching, Germany’s “crazy season” will continue through Tuesday with masquerade balls, dances, children’s parties, funny sessions and colorful parades. Ramstein-Miesenbach’s carnival association Bruchkatze will sponsor its parade on Fat Tuesday, whereas most other towns will have theirs as a highlight on Rose Monday. The most famous Fasching parades are those in the main Fasching cities of Mainz, Köln and Düsseldorf. Spectators from Germany and throughout Europe come to these cities to watch the annual spectacle with decorated floats, bands, dancing and marching groups. Participants in vehicles throw candy or hand out drinks to the crowds along the streets. It is traditional for revelers to sing, sway and dance during the five-hour parades which all start at 11:11 a.m. The official Fasching greeting in Köln is “Alaaf,” and in Mainz and Düsseldorf, it’s “Helau.”
In Ramstein-Miesenbach, Fasching participants shout “Ralau.” The almost 2-hour long parade will start 2 p.m. Tuesday. It will lead from Bahnhofstrasse to Landstuhler Strasse, on to Jahn-, Siedlungs-, Lilien-, Spesbacher- and Miesenbacherstrasse back to Bahnhofstrasse and then AugustSuessdorfstrasse, where it will end. “More than 1,600 persons from 39 clubs registered to participate,” said Hartmut Schäffner, chief of the parade committee. “We also have about 460 Americans from 15 groups who like to join our traditional event.” As in recent years, the U. S. Air Forces in Europe marching band will perform in the streets. Other groups will be the Ramstein Girls Scouts with 12 troops, the Ramstein High School Step Team with 12 people, the Sembach Girl Scouts with about 200 girls and adults, and the Roller Girls of the Apocalypse with 25 participants. Twenty-seven decorated floats and 80 walking groups will present different themes such as “Star Wars”, “Indians” and “Beneath the Sea.”
Photo by Stefan Layes
Traditionally, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band entertains the audience in the Ramstein Fasching parade.
More than 48,000 promotion items to include candies will be tossed to 30,000 to 50,000 spectators. Food and beverage booths will be placed throughout the 2.4 kilometer route. Residents along the route are asked to decorate their houses to support the celebration. “We kindly ask parents to watch their kids, and for safety reasons, spectators shouldn’t get too close to the floats,” said Schäffner. There will be vendors again selling parade butPhoto by Stefan Layes tons for €2 to spectators,” Regional carnival associations send their youth groups to Schäffner added. “This participate in Ramstein-Miesenbach’s parade, which starts 2 helps to finance the event.” p.m. Tuesday. After the parade, the party continues at the Haus des Bürgers. between Schillerplatz and Stiftskirche. Spectators will have free admission to On Shrove Tuesday, a stage will be set the Fasching party with their buttons. up near the Rathaus (city hall). The local “Polizei, the volunteer fire brigade, Fasching association, KVK, will present German Red Cross, office of public its Fasching princess, dancing groups order and military police support us and other members. The official shout each year and help to make the event a in Kaiserslautern is “Kalau.” success,” said Schäffner. A Fasching carnival with rides, a A Fasching carnival with a merry- Ferris wheel, food and candy booths will go-round and activity booths will be take place Saturday through Tuesday set up from Sunday through Tuesday around Stiftskirche. on Marktplatz. The center of RamsteinIn most German states, children don’t Miesenbach is closed Tuesday to motor- have school Shrove Tuesday. And usuized vehicles from noon to 8 p.m. ally, people who work take off in the “Fasching Princess Nadine I. and all early afternoon. In most cases, employBruchkatze members are happy to wel- ers allow them to do so, and stores, come spectators from all over to join the banks and official institutions close at 1 fun,” said Schäffner. or 2 p.m. Tuesday. Other parades in the Pfalz are held Ash Wednesday will end the crazy Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in Linden, and at 2 season. Carnival association members p.m. in Trippstadt, Dahn and Rodalben. and party-goers meet one more time Many towns offer outdoor Fasching for their traditional “Heringsessen,” the events on Shrove Tuesday. eating of herring. The herring is supIn Kaiserslautern, a Fasching party posed to help ease hangovers. Also on with performances and disc jockeys Ash Wednesday, Lent, a 40-day fasting will start 11:11 a.m. Rose Monday period for Roman Catholics starts.
English calendar of events 2013 now available The 2013 issue of the English calendar of events for the Ramstein and Kaiserslautern area is now available at the “Window to Rheinland-Pfalz” information counter at the KMCC, the GermanAmerican Community Office in Kaiserslautern and the tourist information centers in the city and county of Kaiserslautern. The calendar provides a monthly overview of city and village festivals, fairs, markets, concerts, shows and other events in the Ramstein and Kaiserslautern area including a short description of the respective event. It depicts a choice of offers that the local tourism representatives consider particularly interesting for English speaking visitors.
The English calendar was first published in 2011 and the contents keep growing year by year. The 2013 issue lists 160 events from early January until end of December. For the first time it includes information about happenings in the close-by holiday region Lake Ohmbach/ Glan Valley, e.g. the popular Lake Festival in July, and the Donnersberg region with the medieval market at Falkenstein castle in August. The booklet that is distributed free of charge provides dates and details about the Ramstein Carnival Parade, the Sickingen May Market in Landstuhl, the horse show and show jumping in Miesau as well as the Kaiserslautern Altstadtfest or the bike day
“Carfree Lauter Valley” and various other events in the local area. People interested in cultural events and friends of classical music will find something to awaken their interest as well as sports enthusiasts or families with children. Please check the website www.ramstein-gateway. com to find online information about local events and festivals. The “Window to Rheinland-Pfalz – Ramstein Gateway” information center located in the KMCC will be happy to assist you with information about the region. Just stop by at the counter during your next visit at the KMCC. (Courtesy of Infocenter Ramstein)