LIFESTYLES: Otterberg celebrates spring fest Published June 16, 2011 By Petra Lessoing 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Since the middle of the 18th century, every two years, Otterberg celebrates a spring fest. This year, it will begin June 18 and ends June 20 . The local mayor and Spring Queen Laura I. will officially open the event at 7 p.m. June 18, in front of the Abbey Church. The inthronement of the spring queen will happen wit the musical support of the Music Association Harmonie from Otterberg. At 8:30 p.m. the regional and renowned band Favorits will start entertaining the audience for the rest of the night. Traditionally, loud gun salutes will wake up the Otterberg citizens at 6 a.m. Sunday. Then musicians of the Music Association Harmonie will walk through the streets of the medieval village performing a musical wake up call. The highlight of spring fest will be the parade with more than 1,000 participants going up the decorated main street at 1 p.m. June 19. Decorated wagons and people in costumes will present the colorful history of Otterberg -- there will be people dressed as Cistercian monks, Huguenots and Wallonians, and noble people in horse-drawn carriages. Spring Queen Laura I will follow the group in a festive horse-drawn carriage. Local schools, kindergartens, associations and businesses participate as well. After the parade, everybody will walk about two kilometers outside of town toward Höringen to the fest grounds in the forest, where festivities will continue. For those who don't want to or can't walk, a shuttle bus will be available. Various music groups from neighboring towns will entertain visitors in the forest. Local restaurants will be in charge of providing food specialties and drinks. Children can enjoy pony riding and the Kaiserslautern Zoo will be thee with some little animals. Traditionally the climbing tree will be a challenge for youth. Everyone making it up to the top will receive a present. Local council members will pass out pretzels to children. Spring fest will continue June 18 when the Otterberg Music Association will march to the fest area in the forest again. Visitors are welcome to join the march starting at 2 p.m. from the town hall (Verbandsgemeindeverwaltung). Again the forest will turn into a fest area with musical entertainment, eating and drinking. At 6:30 p.m. the fest will close out with a parade walking back to the square in front of the Abbey Church. Here officials and participants will thank the forestry office for letting them use the fest area in the forest.