Wine tasting, torchlight hikes, music, dance and fireworks Kick-off to a series of wine festival weekends in Altenahr
Altenahr · The scenic wine growing region is a stone’s throw from Bonn, and now is the time to visit the traditional wine festivals. Altenahr has been been at it for decades and this weekend, a series of festivals will get started.
Wine festivals have been an Altenahr tradition since the 1930’s. About a half hour drive from Bonn, the picturesque wine growing area puts on wine festivals the last weekend in September and the four subsequent weekends in October. Once again this year, the Altenahr Winegrower’s Association promises a special theme for each weekend, wine tasting, music and dance.
On every Friday of the wine festivals, there is a mystery hike at 4:30pm and at 7:30 pm a guided torchlight hike offered by the tourist information center Altenahr (located at the train station). It all gets started this weekend, Friday to Sunday, September 28 - 30. Altenahr's wine queen Anna Schmidt and her princess Johanna officially open the wine festival at 4 pm on Saturday. There will be live music, as on all of the following weekends.
The Eifel Club Altenahr invites those who are interested for a hike and social get together on Wednesday, October 3, at the “Eifelblick” cottage.
"Hiking fun and wine enjoyment, Part I" is the theme for Friday to Sunday, October 5 to 7. The wine and hiking weekend begins on Friday with a crime mystery hike towards Kreuzberg and a guided torchlight hike through the vineyards. For the guided tours on Saturday and Sunday, the meeting place is at the “Haus des Gastes” at 11am, tourist information center Altenahr. Besides the opportunity to view the gorgeous landscape, there is also information about wine growing, and wine tasting along the way.
On the following weekend, October 12 to 14, the theme is "Rock formations, lights and wine". The Are Castle will be illuminated in Bengali light. Water games on the Ahr River and torchlights on the steep slopes attract many visitors every year.
The second round of "Hiking fun and wine enjoyment" will take place from Friday to Sunday, October 19-21, when there is another opportunity to take part in a crime mystery hike and a torch-lit walk through the vineyards. For the guided tours on Saturday and Sunday, once again the meeting place is at the “Haus des Gastes” at 11am, tourist information Altenahr.
On the final weekend of October 26 to 28, there will be a firework display at the ruins of the Are Castle on Saturday at around 9:30 pm. On all wine festival Fridays, music and dancing is offered in Altenahr establishments. The wine fountain on the fairground is open on Saturdays and Sundays. For further information, please see www.altenahr-ahr.de.
(Orig. text: sim / Translation: ck)
