Subscribe

K-TOWN NOW

Make the most of Labor Day weekend with these 5 KMC events


A sculpture of a crocodile made entirely out of gourds.

From live music and wine in a corn maze to pumpkin dinosaurs and elaborate LEGO creations, there’s plenty happening off base to fill the long weekend. (CC0)

September is here, the first hints of fall are creeping into the air, and Labor Day weekend has arrived with an extra day or two to make the most of it.

Although many on-base facilities will be closed or operating on reduced hours for the Labor Day holiday, there’s still plenty happening around the Kaiserslautern Military Community to fill the long weekend.

Pumpkin exhibition: Dinosaurs are taking over Kaiserslautern’s Garden Show, and this time they’re made of pumpkins. About 40,000 gourds have been stacked, shaped and arranged into 11 dinosaur-themed works of art at this colorful seasonal exhibition through the end of October. After roaming among the prehistoric pumpkin creations, stop by the on-site bistro for a bowl of homemade pumpkin soup. Admission is 9.90 euros for adults, 7 euros for students and 4.50 euros for children ages 6-14. Children 5 and younger get in free.

Boozy corn maze: A-maize-ing? Absolutely. Get delightfully lost at this hybrid corn maze and wine walk in Rüdesheim am Rhein starting at 6 p.m. Saturday. Wander between towering rows of corn in search of five hidden wine stations, with samples waiting to reward you along the way. Tickets are 34 euros, or 16 euros for designated drivers.

Music festival: Get into the groove as Kaiserslautern celebrates its 750th anniversary at this music-filled festival throughout downtown Thursday through Saturday. Regional and international acts take over multiple stages with swing, jazz, blues, boogie, soul, salsa and rock ‘n’ roll, turning the city center into one big dance floor. Admission is free.

End of summer fair: Squeeze in one more dose of summer fun with music, games, carnival treats and plenty of fairground action at this lively celebration in Kusel Friday through Tuesday. The party starts with the ceremonial tapping of the beer keg at 8:30 p.m. Friday, followed by a parade at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday shopping from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free.

Lego fan exhibition: Brick by brick, Landstuhl’s Stadthalle transforms into a playground for Lego fans at this colorful exhibition from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Check out elaborate builds and original creations, try your hand at building activities, and hunt for sets, rarities and minifigures at the flea market. Admission is 6 euros for ages 14 and older, 4 euros for ages 5-13 and free for children 4 and younger. A family ticket for two adults and two children costs 16 euros.

Sign Up for Daily Headlines

Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets from around the world.

Sign Up Now