Summer Festivals in the Eifel

In the summer, the Eifel is full of fun events and festivals that are sure to keep any family busy and happy. There are various winefests all over the area, but here are a few of the more popular events:

European Folk Festival
In early July, Bitburg hosts a European Folk Festival. The event lasts for five days, and includes dancers and music from over 15 countries. There is a parade and folk dancing demonstrations. Festivities last for about three days, with different fun events going on per day. A children's folk festival is also included.

Rhein in Flames
The Rhein in Flames is a fun event in Koblenz, with a small carnival with rides and food/drink vendors along the river. River boats travel up the river and shoot off fireworks before the official start of the fireworks display. The fireworks show is a true marvel. The sides of the river are first lit up in soft orange lighting that slowly turns red over the hours, simulating the flames of a fire. When the fireworks start, music is blasted from overhead speakers, and the fireworks a choreographed to the music, which lasts for a few songs. In Germany, these fireworks displays are performed by people who spend their time competing for the best fireworks displays in the world.

Pig Fest

Wittlich hosts the Pig Fest every year on the third Sunday in August, and it is something that is worth visiting! A fun carnival is set up, with food/drink vendors, games, and a little area for shopping handcrafted gifts and other goods. There are also several stages set up for live music entertainment, and the roasting a pigs on the spit are the main attraction. The story behind the pig fest is that long ago the village was under attack by the Huns, and the city gates were shut to protect the people. The pin that usually closed the gate went missing, so a large carrot was wedged into the gate to close it. A pig came by later, and ate the carrot, allowing the Huns to come into the city and invade. To take revenge against the pigs, all pigs were slaughtered in the city, and every year they roast several pigs on a spit to mark the occasion. A count of how many pigs have been roasted will appear on a little board near the pig tent. The pork is sliced and served on brotchen, and is very delicious. 

Bernkastel Weinfest
The Bernkastel Weinfest is a fantastic event featuring local wines from the region, carnival rides, games, and food/drink vendors. It is held during the first weekend of September in Bernkastel. Festivities begin on the Thursday before the weekend, beginning with wine tastings. For more information, use the link above.

Medieval Festival

Manderscheid hosts a midieval festival during the last weekend in August, which lasts for about three days. There are live shows, jousting, musical entertainment, vendors selling food/drinks and handmade goods, and fun demonstrations for kids to participate in. The Manderscheid castle can be visited during this time, which is truly stunning to view from the roads passing by. It is set in a hidden mountain area, and in order to reach the festival, cars must be parked in specified fields, and transport buses take vistors back and forth.