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Annual festival celebrates Wittlich's history
Posted 8/8/2012 Updated 8/8/2012
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by Staff reports
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
8/8/2012 - SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- -- Each year in the third week of August the town of Wittlich celebrates their annual Pig Fest known as Saubrennerkirmes.
Pig Fest is one of the largest street festivals in Rhineland-Palatinate. As the name implies, the festival is celebrated with the roasting of more than 100 pigs on spits Aug. 17-20 this year.
Wittlich holds the festival to commemorate its history. Legend has it; Wittlich was once a walled fortress constantly under attack by invaders.
One evening a guard charged with locking the gate to the besieged town couldn't find the peg to secure the fortified door. All he could find was a large carrot to wedge in the door. Later, a pig ate the carrot, the gate opened and the enemies came in. After the town was ransacked, the angry townspeople herded every pig into the town's market square and roasted them.
The first pigs arrive in the marketplace Aug. 18 via a horse-drawn wagon for the festival. The pigs will be roasted on spits and Schweinebraten, or barbecued pork, is available to eat beginning at approximately 3 p.m. Tickets for Schweinebraten may be purchased at the tourist information office's window in the market square for 3 Euro.
The festival will include a crafts market, concerts, games, amusement rides and various concession stands every day. Local residents also put on a play, in which they reenact the legend, 9:30 p.m. Aug. 17 in the Rommelbach city park followed by a torch light procession through the streets of Wittlich.
Visitors can also go to an art exhibition at the Rathaus, or city hall, open throughout the festival.
The city is expected to be crowded throughout the entire day Aug. 18, especially at night, and in the evening Aug. 19.
The Wittlich Pig Festival is a popular celebration in the Eifel area and festival organizers expect thousands of visitors.
The center of the town will be blocked off from traffic because all celebrations occur either in the market square or close to the center of town.
People driving to the festival should arrange transportation ahead of time and should not drive after consuming alcohol. Police controls will be enforced every day of the festival, according to organizers.
For more information, visit www.saeubrenner.com. |
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