Almond Blossom Festival

• In regions where almond trees flourish, almond blossoms herald the arrival of spring. This phenomenon is so breathtaking that some communities celebrate the occasion with an almond blossom festival. Since almond trees flourish in Gimmeldingen in the German Palatinate, this village is the site of a famous German Almond Blossom Festival. The exact date of the festival varies from year to year, depending on how soon the almond trees begin to blossom. In the past, it has sometimes occurred fairly early in March; but in years when the blossoms were slow to arrive, the festival took place early in April. Gimmeldingen lies on the Weinstrasse (Wine Road) of the Palatinate. As a result, wine is a central focus of this celebration, and the Almond Blossom Festival is actually a German wine festival.
  
  

Palatinate Village Festivals

• German wine festivals take place throughout the summer and well into the autumn months. Just as many villages in the United States hold an annual fair, so do the villages of the German Palatinate devote one or more days in spring, summer or autumn to a wine festival. The name of the festival may vary from village to village. Kirrweiler, Oberhausen and Walsheim call their celebration a "Weinfest" (Wine Festival). Herxheim am Berg calls its wine festival a symposium. Schweigen-Rechtenbach, which claims to be the "Gateway to the German Wine Road," gives its wine festival the colorful name "Rebblütenfest" (Grapevine Blossom Festival).
  
  

Neustadt Vintage Festival

• The climax of Palatinate wine celebrations is the Vintage Festival of Neustadt an der Weinstrasse (Neustadt on the Wine Road). It features the selection and the coronation of two queens: the German wine queen and the Palatinate wine queen. During the celebration, connoisseurs test the quality of Palatinate wines, and there is a symposium involving wines from all 13 German wine-growing regions.
  
  

Radebeul Wine Festival

• Other wine-growing areas of Germany have similar wine festivals, even such communities as Radebeul and Meissen in the eastern German state of Saxony. In a typical Radebeul celebration, the assembled crowd is treated to a parade. Then a Saxon wine queen and a person posing as Bacchus formally open the celebration. Other features of the Radebeul festival is the presentation of many different types of wines and theatrical performances by different groups of actors from various countries. The festival dates from the downfall of Communism in East Germany. Its formal name is Herbst- und Weinfest (Autumn and Wine Festival).
  
  

Heimersheim Wine Festival

• The Ahr Valley is one of the most northerly wine-growing regions in the world. It also has several wine festivals, including the Historisches Weinfest (Historical Wine Festival) in Heimersheim, which features entertainment characteristic of the Middle Ages. Spectators can enjoy Medieval music, as well as performances by bards and jugglers. Even knights make an appearance in Medieval jousts.