Barbarossafest „Swinging Lautern”

The Barbarossa Festival ‘Swinging Lautern’ brings the city centre to life

Three days of music, culture, enjoyment and socialising to mark the city’s 750th anniversary
Kaiserslautern’s celebrations continue: the second half of this major anniversary year is also all about shared experiences. From 3 to 5 September, the popular Barbarossa Festival “Swinging Lautern” will once again transform the city centre into a huge stage for music, culture, socialising and joie de vivre. In this special anniversary year, “750 Years of Kaiserslautern”, visitors can look forward to a varied programme featuring numerous live acts, culinary delights and special activities for the whole family.

“I warmly invite all residents and our guests to come together and celebrate with one another amidst music, culture and pure joie de vivre in the late summer of our city’s anniversary year,” says Lord Mayor Beate Kimmel. The Lord Mayor extends her thanks to the ‘Kaiser in Lautern’ advertising association, the city management team, the numerous volunteers and the sponsors (Stadtwerke Kaiserslautern, Sparkasse Kaiserslautern, Barbarossa Bakery, Stadtbildpflege Kaiserslautern, Lotto, Karlsberg Brewery, Teinacher, K in Lautern, tax consultants Traumer & Heidingsfelder and Hedin Automobile), who contribute to the success of the festival every year. “The fact that we work together so brilliantly in Kaiserslautern is what sets us apart as a community. Together, we succeed time and again in organising wonderful events for residents and visitors alike.”

There is also great anticipation within the ‘Kaiser in Lautern’ advertising association. “We are delighted that we can expand the Barbarossa Festival with additional offers and activities in this anniversary year. These include, amongst other things, the special offers on St. Martin’s Square and the varied children’s programme at the Altenhof. In this way, we aim to appeal to even more people and make ‘Swinging Lautern’ an experience for the whole family,” said Alexander Heß, chairman of the advertising association.

A variety of music across four stages

‘Swinging Lautern’ is once again offering a top-class musical programme this year. On several stages in the city centre, numerous bands and artists will provide top-class entertainment – ranging from jazz and swing to blues and rock, as well as soul, pop, brass and Cuban rhythms.

To kick things off on Thursday evening, the **Marching Band Stuttgart**, with their authentic New Orleans jazz, and the **Huggee Swing Band**, amongst others, will bring the festival’s special atmosphere to life at the Stiftskirche. On Stiftsplatz, **Smittys Blues +** will ensure an atmospheric start to the musical weekend.

Numerous other highlights follow on Friday and Saturday: the **Unnerhaus Jazzband**, **Joe Bawelino & Gige Brunner**, **Jukebox Heroes XXL**, the **Volker Klimmer Band**, the **Stephan Flesch Acoustic Quartet**, **San Salvador**, the **Kaiserslautern University Big Band**, **abgroovebereit**, **Havanna con Klasse** and many other acts will showcase the festival’s full musical spectrum.

The stage at St. Martinsplatz – which this year, for the first time, will enrich the Barbarossa Festival every evening from 7.00 pm with a fantastic programme – and Schillerplatz will also become meeting places for music lovers. Among those performing are **Groove Connection feat. Simone Swift**, **Federkeil Music Trio feat. Sabrina Boncourt**, **3rd Degree**, **No Matter What**, the **Wandermusikanten**, **Olli Abt Band & Sabrina Roth** and many more artists.

A special hallmark of ‘Swinging Lautern’ remains the marching bands, which not only perform on stage but also parade through the city centre, bringing the festival right into the heart of the crowd. Among those taking part are the **Wandermusikanten**, **Mississippi Tree**, the **Marching Band Stuttgart**, the **Big Feet Boys**, **Men in Blue** and the **Spielgemeinschaft**.

The full programme and timetable can be found at www.750kl.de or in the programme booklet, which is available at many locations and will also be distributed during the festival.

International encounters to mark the anniversary year

This year’s ‘Swinging Lautern’ will also have an international flavour: to mark the city’s 750th anniversary, delegations from six twin towns will be visiting Kaiserslautern. Representatives from Brandenburg an der Havel, Bunkyo-ku (Japan), Columbia (USA), Guimarães (Portugal), Pleven (Bulgaria) and St. Quentin (France) will be visiting the city and bringing an international flavour to the festival weekend.

On Friday, 4 September, at 12 noon in the Town Hall foyer, Lord Mayor Beate Kimmel will open the exhibition ‘Twin Cities – Our Twin Towns’. The event is open to the public and offers anyone interested the chance to meet the guests from the twin towns.

These international links will also be celebrated through music: On Saturday 5 September, the **Extra Chor Brandenburg** will present a musical greeting from the twin town of Brandenburg an der Havel on the stage at Stiftsplatz.

Creative programme for children and families

Even the youngest visitors will find something to enjoy. On Friday and Saturday, from 12 noon to 6 pm each day, the Altenhof will be entirely dedicated to little creative minds. Together with the Barbarossa Bakery and Thomy the Globetrotter, a varied programme of hands-on activities awaits.

In the large woodwork workshop, children can build, design and paint their own floating sailing boat. In the leather workshop, they can create personalised key rings with their own patterns and decorations. The focus is on creativity, craftsmanship and shared experiences.

The Lautern Charity Ride combines adventure with a good cause

For the third time, the **Lautern Charity Ride** is taking place as part of “Swinging Lautern”. On Saturday 5 September, from 4 pm to 8 pm, visitors can enjoy a special ride in extraordinary vehicles. For a donation of 25 euros, the ride takes you on a 25-minute tour through and around Kaiserslautern. The proceeds will go towards the Japanese Garden.

Shop, savour and linger

As well as music and culture, ‘Swinging Lautern’ also invites visitors to stroll around and enjoy themselves. Kaiserslautern, a city renowned for its shopping, showcases its diverse mix of retail sectors and special offers from member businesses of the ‘Kaiser in Lautern’ advertising association.

The festival also offers plenty of culinary delights: around the Stiftskirche, Stiftsplatz, Schillerplatz and St. Martinsplatz, guests can look forward to a wide range of culinary offerings – from regional specialities and international cuisine to wines, cocktails and the popular anniversary wine and anniversary secco.

As a special souvenir and to support the event, the popular ‘Swinging Lautern Hat’ is once again available for five euros. The proceeds go directly towards funding the festival programme.

Traffic information

Parts of the event site will be cordoned off with mobile barriers.

• Thursday 3 September from 6.00 pm to 11.00 pm
• Friday 4 September and Saturday 5 September from 11.00 am to midnight on both days

Road closures will be in place on all sides of Schillerplatz from Fruchthallstraße; coming from Altenhof, from Am Altenhof 1; on Glaserstraße towards Schillerplatz; on Marktstraße from house number 28 to Marktstraße 12; and on Stiftsplatz from Deutsche Bank towards Stiftskirche. Despite the closures, access to Glaserstraße via Marktstraße will remain open.