Parades and parties for Halloween
Published: October 25, 2011
Halloween’s just around the corner, and Germany is a good place to be if this is one of your favorite times of the year. The popularity of this holiday seems to increase with every passing year, giving you plenty of off-base options for fun and fright. Here are some ideas for outings:
Halloween parade: Could it possibly have anything to do with the American presence in Kaiserslautern that the city hosts a one-of-a-kind in Europe celebration at this time of year? The Halloween City parade & pumpkin spectacle generally brings tens-of-thousands of revelers to the city center to enjoy a full day of seasonal fun. From 11 a.m. kids can carve pumpkins and make Halloween decorations, and at 3 p.m., there’s a program especially for the young ones at the Stiftsplatz. At 3:30 p.m., the children’s parade begins, with a prize given for the best costume. The adults get their turn at 7 p.m., when their parade sets off from Eisenbahnstrasse. There’s a 3000 euro prize for the best decorated car, and the wearer of the best costume walks away with 500 euros. Kids don’t need to pre-register for any of these events, but the adult participants do, and there is an entry fee. To register, visit www.werbegemeinschaft-kl.de/index.php?id=82 (German only) or call Anna Becker at 0631-365-3426. Frau Becker speaks English.
Visit one of the world’s largest pumpkin exhibitions: With some 400,000 gourds on display now through November 6, Bluehendes Barock in Ludwigsburg claims its pumpkin exhibition is the largest in the world. This year’s theme is dinosaurs. Entry to the palace gardens costs 8 euros for adults and 3.90 euros for ages 4-15. A family ticket allowing entry for two parents and two children is 21.50 euros.
Get frightened at an amusement park: several parks in southern Germany host Halloween-related events. Europa Park offers Horror Nights Oct. 28 through Nov. 1 and Nov. 4-5, and what’s billed as Germany’s biggest Halloween party will be held there on Oct. 31. Find details at www.europapark.com/lang-en/c433/default.html?vid=7644#veranst_7644 (German only). Holiday Park has Halloween-themed events as well. The park will be open Oct. 29-31; find hours of operation here. Legoland hosts a “Happy Halloween Autumn Party” through Oct. 31, and on Halloween, kids in costume get in free. Find more at www.legoland.de/en/Plan/Events-Shows/Halloween/?month=10&year=2011
Halloween parties: the party started over 30 years ago by the U.S. forces based in Darmstadt retains its status as the gold standard in Halloween parties in Germany. Frankenstein’s castle lies in ruins, but that only adds to its superlative spooky atmosphere. The castle is located north of Mannheim and Heidelberg, along the Bergstrasse. The party’s on Fridays through Sundays, and continues the week after Halloween through November 6. Tickets for the adult parties are no longer available online, although there is a chance you may be able to buy tickets at the cashier’s booth on the day of the event. If the entrance to the parking lot at the bottom of the hill is blocked, that means there are no more tickets. You might also get lucky with tickets at a few selected outlets - click here for a list of vendors. For background on the castle’s history, see Frankenstein Castle: Mystery endures. If you miss the Halloween event, you might be interested in one of the themed dinners held periodically - enjoy dinner and a theatrical production based on the legends of Frankenstein, Jack the Ripper or Dracula. For 69 euros, enjoy an aperitif, four-course meal, mineral water and a gruesome performance. Learn more at www.frankenstein-halloween.de/content/e573/index_en.html (German only).
Mannheim’s Luisenpark holds a family Halloween party on October 31. There will be fun activities for the kids, along with witches, ghosts and magicians ready to give you a fright. The park’s usual admission fees apply on the day.
Ruesselheim is home to an imposing fortress, and on October 29, from 2 to 6 p.m., it stages a Geisterspektakel geared toward families. The kids will enjoy making decorations, carving pumpkins and having their faces painted. Entry is 9.50 euros per head.
Kurpfalz Park in Wachenheim celebrates Halloween with a family event on Oct. 31 from 5 p.m. You can enjoy not only the park’s animals but a full program of spooks, pumpkin carving, rides and fireworks at 10 p.m. Adult admission is 12 euros; kids ages 4-14 pay 10 euros. More at www.kurpfalzpark.de/de/kurpfalzpark/preise/.
Mayen, in the Eifel, traditionally holds a Witches and Magician’s Market on the last weekend of October. For the program, see www.mayen.de/images/2-Tourismus-Event/Festival_Magie/Programm_2011_neu.pdf.
Burg Satzvey ’s Ghosts and Ghouls at Halloween fest is an event aimed at adult revelers. They’re celebrating on Oct. 29 and 31 with Medieval bands from 6 p.m., followed by a disco that stretches well into the witching hour. Admission is 15 euros.
Osterburken is home to Histotainment Park Adventon, where you’ll find an Aller Geister Abend on Oct. 31, consisting of spooks, live music and a fire show. Adult admission is 7 euros, whereas children ages 6-16 pay 4 euros.
If none of the above appeals, your local pub, club or disco is likely to have a Halloween fest, as well. So dust those cobwebs off your costume - or maybe just leave them - and get into the spirit of the season.
