German-American Community Office

28/08/2026

27/08/2026

🇩🇪 GACO Day Trip Tip: Discover St. Wendel! 🇺🇸
Sometimes the best day trips are to places you may not have heard much about yet. St. Wendel, in neighboring Saarland, is one of them – and the next two weekends offer two very different reasons to make the trip from the Kaiserslautern area.
With its historic pedestrian zone, cafés, restaurants and local shops, St. Wendel provides a charming setting for exploring the town on foot. And over the next two weekends, the city will turn into a meeting place for art lovers, music fans and anyone looking for something a little different.

🇺🇸 A little about St. Wendel
Only about 40–45 minutes from Ramstein, St. Wendel makes for an easy day trip from the KMC. The Saarland town combines a historic old town with a lively cultural scene and is the regional center of the St. Wendeler Land.
At the heart of the city stands the impressive Wendelinus Basilica, a landmark of St. Wendel and an important late-Gothic church in Saarland. The surrounding historic old town, with its small streets, squares, cafés and restaurants, is perfect for exploring on foot.
St. Wendel's history goes back centuries: the town developed as a market and pilgrimage center and received its town charter in the 14th century. Today, it is also known for cultural events, festivals and sporting events – giving visitors plenty of reasons to come back.
📍 St. Wendel, Saarland
🚗 Approx. 42 km / 43 min from Ramstein Air Base
🚗 Approx. 63 km from Kaiserslautern

🎨 This weekend: St. Wendeler LebensArt
August 29–30 | 10 AM–6 PM
The historic city center becomes an open-air gallery during St. Wendeler LebensArt – Market for Art & Crafts.
Around 90 artists and craftspeople from Germany and abroad will present unique works ranging from sculpture, painting and jewelry to textiles, ceramics, porcelain and other handcrafted pieces.
What makes the event particularly interesting is the personal contact with the artists. Visitors can talk to the people behind the works, watch craftsmanship up close and discover one-of-a-kind pieces.
🎶 Live acoustic music will accompany the event as well.
And on Sunday, August 30, the city's shops will also be open from 1–6 PM for a special Sunday shopping experience.
📍 St. Wendeler pedestrian zone
📅 Saturday & Sunday, August 29–30
🕙 10 AM–6 PM
________________________________________
🎶 Next weekend: SING CITY
Saturday, September 5 | St. Wendel
One week later, St. Wendel will sound very different!
SING CITY 2026 brings around 110 choirs and approximately 3,000 singers to the city. Performances will take place on nine indoor and outdoor stages, turning the historic city center into one large festival of choral music.
The program includes an impressive variety of ensembles – from children's and youth choirs to gospel, jazz, pop, men's, women's and mixed choirs.
🎤 Evening highlight: the nationally renowned a ca****la group baff, performing at 6:15 PM.
📍 Throughout downtown St. Wendel
📅 Saturday, September 5
🎟️ Admission is free
And because the different venues are all within easy walking distance, you can explore several stages during your visit without having to drive from one location to another.
🇺🇸 Why not make a day trip of it?
Whether you're interested in art and handmade crafts, live music and singing, or simply want to explore another small German town outside the Kaiserslautern area, St. Wendel is worth putting on your weekend list.
Two weekends. Two very different experiences. One new place to discover.

26/08/2026

🇩🇪❤️ A Weekend Celebrating Volunteering in Kaiserslautern

The final weekend of August is all about volunteering, community and getting involved in Kaiserslautern!

On August 29 and 30, the city and the state of Rhineland-Palatinate invite everyone to two special days featuring clubs, organizations, demonstrations, music and plenty of opportunities to discover the many ways people contribute to their community.

🤝 Saturday, August 29 – Day of Clubs & Associations

From 11 AM to 8 PM, around 100 clubs, initiatives and organizations will showcase the diversity of volunteer work in Kaiserslautern.

Visitors can explore the Sports & Games Mile around Fruchthalle and the Tourist Information, with soccer courts, soccer darts and activities by local sports clubs.

The Emergency Services Mile offers a closer look at the work of firefighters, emergency medical services, police and other aid organizations, including their vehicles and equipment.

And throughout the day, the stage at the Stiftskirche will feature a varied program:

🎶 Saturday's program at the Stiftskirche:

11:00 AM – Official opening
Opening by Mayor Beate Kimmel, followed by Palz Pepper, the women's barbershop choir from Kaiserslautern.

11:30 AM – K-Town Pipe Band

1:00 PM – Karate demonstration
by TuS 04 Dansenberg

2:15 PM – Taiko drum concert
by the Trend- und Funsportclub Kaiserslautern

3:00 PM – Qi Gong
The Tai Chi Academy invites visitors to take part.

4:00 PM – Dachshunds on stage
The Kurpfalz chapter of the German Dachshund Club presents its dachshunds.

5:00 PM – Oriental-themed belly dance
presented by the Adult Education Center.

🎵 Saturday evening – two concerts:

7:00 PM – Taste of Vibes
📍 RPR1. stage, Stiftskirche

7:00 PM – Lauter Souls
📍 SWR stage, Stiftsplatz

❤️ Sunday, August 30 – Statewide Volunteer Day

Sunday continues with the Statewide Volunteer Day 2026, from 11 AM to 5 PM.

🤝 Marktplatz Ehrenamt
More than 50 organizations from across Rhineland-Palatinate will present their work and provide information about volunteering.

🚒 Emergency & Rescue Organizations
Discover the work of fire departments, aid organizations and other emergency services.

⚽ Sports & Games
Interactive activities invite visitors to join in.

🎶 Music, dance & talks
11:00 AM–5:00 PM
📍 RPR1. & State of Rhineland-Palatinate stage, Stiftskirche

The event is a great opportunity to meet people, discover local organizations and get a closer look at the many ways volunteers contribute to life in Kaiserslautern and throughout the region.

🚗 Coming by car? Important road closure information!

If you're planning to drive into downtown Kaiserslautern, please allow extra time and expect road closures.

Some restrictions will already begin on Wednesday, August 26 at 8:00 AM:

Stiftsplatz will be closed between the intersection at the SAKS Hotel and Bismarckstraße. Access to the hotel's underground parking garage and to Bismarckstraße will remain possible.

Additional extensive road closures will be in effect during the main event periods:

📅 Saturday, August 29 | 11:00 AM–5:30 PM
📅 Sunday, August 30 | 10:00 AM–7:30 PM

Affected streets include parts of:

• Burgstraße
• Fruchthallstraße
• Stiftsplatz
• Karl-Marx-Straße
• Bismarckstraße
• Rummelstraße
• Stiftsstraße
• Marktstraße
• Schillerstraße
• Glaserstraße

If you're driving downtown, check your route beforehand and be prepared for detours.

🚍 Public transportation:
Parking is available at Messeplatz. From there, take a bus from the Messeplatz stop to Stadtmitte. The event area is only a few minutes' walk from there. If you're arriving by train, take a bus from Kaiserslautern Hauptbahnhof to Stadtmitte.

🎟️ Admission is free!

Come along, discover Kaiserslautern's clubs and organizations, enjoy the program and celebrate the people who make a difference through volunteering! ❤️

25/08/2026

🇩🇪🎉 GACO Weekend Picks: Three Local Events to Check Out

The last weekend of August is bringing plenty of local festival atmosphere to the Kaiserslautern area! If you're looking for something to do outside the city this weekend, here are three events worth checking out:

🛍️ Weilerbach Freiluftbasar
📅 Sunday, August 30 | 11 AM–3 PM
📍 Throughout Weilerbach

Think of it as a giant outdoor village flea market: households throughout Weilerbach will be offering all kinds of items for sale. It's a great opportunity to stroll through the town, browse for hidden treasures and experience a very local community event.

There is also a map showing the participating households and locations. The colors make it easy to see what you'll find where:

🟢 Green: general flea market items
🔴 Red: children's items
🟢🔴 Green & red: both general items and children's items

👉 Check the Freiluftbasar map and plan your route:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1leH53oNPCIPMBnQvCySiXIIrO6aoYcY

🎡 Sembacher XXL Kerwe
📅 August 29–31
📍 Sembach

Three days of traditional Kerwe fun, with food, drinks, music and plenty of local atmosphere. The festival kicks off on Saturday at 6:30 PM with the official opening and music by the Soldier Chor of the US Army Band. At 8:30 PM, Filsbacher XXL takes over the Kerweplatz.

🇺🇸 Especially for our American community: Saturday's opening with the US Army Band makes this a particularly interesting opportunity to experience some traditional German Kerwe atmosphere with a familiar musical connection.

🎠 Miesenbach Kerwe
📅 August 28–31
📍 Miesenbach

Four days of traditional Palatinate village-festival atmosphere with a festival tent, live music, regional specialties, children's entertainment and the traditional Kerwe festivities.

So whether you're in the mood for treasure hunting, live music or a traditional German village festival, there are plenty of options around Kaiserslautern this weekend.

Which one will you check out? 👇

21/08/2026

🌍🎶 A Taste of African Culture in Kaiserslautern

Looking for a colorful summer afternoon filled with music, culture, food and new encounters?

On Saturday, August 29, the Afro Summer Festival Kaiserslautern 2026 will bring people of different cultures and generations together in the courtyard of the Theodor-Zink-Museum.

From 1 PM to 9 PM, visitors can enjoy a relaxed and family-friendly afternoon with a diverse program celebrating African culture and intercultural exchange.

🎵 Music & DJ
🌍 Intercultural Flag Parade
👗 Intercultural Fashion Show
🍴 African food & drinks
🎲 Games for all ages
📸 African-inspired photo zone
🎟️ Tombola with prizes

The festival is open to all ages and welcomes families, young people, international communities and anyone interested in experiencing a different side of Kaiserslautern's cultural diversity.

And the best part: Admission is free! 🙌

📅 Saturday, August 29, 2026
🕐 1–9 PM
📍 Theodor-Zink-Museum, Steinstraße 48, Kaiserslautern

Come along, discover African culture, enjoy the music and food, and spend a summer afternoon meeting people from different backgrounds right here in Kaiserslautern. 🌍❤️

Everyone is welcome!

20/08/2026

🍷🎶 Wine & Music is coming to downtown Kaiserslautern!

What happens when you combine Palatinate wine, good food and live music — and spread it all across the city center?

“Wine & Music” is back on Friday, August 21, and Saturday, August 22, turning downtown Kaiserslautern into a relaxed summer wine and music tour as part of the city's 750th anniversary celebrations.

Instead of one central festival site, you can stroll from one location to another, discover different parts of downtown, enjoy regional wines and other drinks, grab something to eat and listen to live music along the way. 🍷🎶

And there is quite a variety to choose from: the program ranges from chanson, soul and world music to Latin, rock, pop, blues and DJs. Performances take place at several locations, including Stiftskirche, Stiftsplatz, Schillerplatz, St.-Martins-Platz and the Unionsviertel.

🇺🇸 One highlight especially worth mentioning for the KMC community:
On Saturday afternoon, the USAFE Band “Touch 'n Go” will perform at the Stiftskirche from 3–5 PM.

🎵 A few more highlights

Friday, August 21

7 PM: Tanquoray at the Stiftskirche
7 PM: Tribubu – World Music & Flamenco Night at Stiftsplatz
7 PM: Larry H. Soulmann & Band at St.-Martins-Platz
From 7 PM: at TwentyOne

Saturday, August 22

12 PM: Anne Mathieu & Pino Serio – Chansons et Canzoni at the Stiftskirche
3 PM: USAFE Band Touch 'n Go at the Stiftskirche
6 PM: Lautern tanzt – Salsa, Bachata & Kizomba at Stiftsplatz
7 PM: Third Degree – Soul-Pop at the Stiftskirche
8 PM: Jason & Danijel – Pop-Soul-Rock in the Unionsviertel

🍷 And there's a little extra:
Visitors can collect six digital stamps through the Stadt KL app when ordering wine at participating locations. A completed digital booklet activates a prize coupon for the event's giveaway.

📅 Friday, August 21 & Saturday, August 22, 2026
📍 Downtown Kaiserslautern
🎶 Live music at various locations
🍷 Wine, drinks & culinary specialties
🎉 Part of Kaiserslautern's 750th anniversary

Come for the wine, stay for the music — and explore the city along the way. 🍷🎶

Please note: The program is subject to change. Check the “Stadt KL” app for updates

19/08/2026

🐑🎺 Oktoberfest vibes in the Palatinate! 🍻

This Sunday, August 23, the ZAK – Central Waste Management Kaiserslautern invites visitors to the 10th Kapiteltaler Almabtrieb in Kapiteltal. From 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the area will turn into a festive Alpine-style celebration for the whole family.

The Almabtrieb is inspired by the traditional return of livestock from the mountain pastures — but here in Kaiserslautern, it’s the local sheep that take center stage! 🐑 After spending the summer grazing on the former landfill area, the sheep become part of this very special local tradition.

Visitors can look forward to live music with XXL Steirer and a special guest from Lower Bavaria, Bavarian specialties such as Schweinshaxe and Weißwurst, Festbier, coffee and cake, as well as plenty of activities for children. There will also be opportunities to learn more about nature and the environment with the forest school, NABU and the Environmental Experience Center. 🎶🥨🍺🌳

And of course, the traditional highlight: the decorated sheep and the festive Almabtrieb atmosphere! 🌼🐑

📍 Kapiteltal, Kaiserslautern
📅 Sunday, August 23, 2026
🕥 10:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

🚗 Good to know: Parking on the ZAK site is limited, but a shuttle service is available. Due to another sporting event in the city, there will also be some road closures on Sunday. Access from the city center via Mainzer Straße is recommended.

👉 More information and the most important details can be found in our graphic below!

17/08/2026

🎸 Who says computer science students can't rock?

Tonight, the Jubiläumsbühne at the Stiftskirche will prove otherwise!

Starting at 6 PM, AlgoRhythmic will take the stage as part of Kaiserslautern's 750th anniversary celebrations. The band brings together students from the Computer Science Department of RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau — with a set ranging from classic rock anthems to modern pop hits.

So, if you're looking for some live music in the heart of Kaiserslautern tonight, this could be a fun way to spend your Monday evening. 🎶

📅 Monday, August 17, 2026
🕕 Starting at 6 PM
📍 Jubiläumsbühne at the Stiftskirche
🎸 AlgoRhythmic

Come by, grab a spot and see what happens when computer science meets live music! 🤘

14/08/2026

🎉 WIN 2 TICKETS TO EXPLORE KAISERSLAUTERN'S HIDDEN HISTORY!

What's hiding beneath the streets of Kaiserslautern? 🏰

We're giving one lucky winner the chance to bring a guest on an English-language guided tour of the Pfalzgrafensaal (Count Palatine Hall) & Subterranean Tunnel — a fascinating journey through more than 750 years of Kaiserslautern's history.

Want to join the tour? Enter our giveaway for your chance to win 2 tickets! 👇

How to enter:
1️⃣ Follow the GACO page
2️⃣ Like this giveaway post
3️⃣ Answer the question in this post in the comments

📅 Giveaway period: August 17–31, 2026
🎟️ Prize: 2 tickets for the English-language guided tour
🇺🇸 Eligibility: English-speaking members of the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC), regardless of nationality, age 18+

No purchase necessary. Tagging friends or sharing the post is not required to enter.

Good luck — and have fun discovering a little more of Kaiserslautern's history! 🍀

Terms & Conditions

1. Organizer
German-American Community Office (GACO), Lauterstr. 2, 67657 Kaiserslautern

2. Entry period
The giveaway runs from August 17, 2026, at 12:00 AM to August 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM (CEST). Entries received after the deadline will not be considered.

3. Eligibility
The giveaway is open to English-speaking members of the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC), regardless of nationality, aged 18 or over. Employees of the organizer and persons involved in running the giveaway are excluded.

4. How to enter
To enter, participants must:

follow the GACO page,
like the giveaway post, and
answer the question in the post as a comment.

No purchase is necessary. Tagging friends or sharing the post is not required and is not a condition of entry.

5. Prize
One winner will receive 2 tickets for the English-language guided tour "Pfalzgrafensaal (Count Palatine Hall) & Subterranean Tunnel." The prize is non-transferable, cannot be selected, exchanged or paid out in cash.

6. Winner selection
After the entry period ends, one winner will be selected at random from all valid entries and notified via Facebook (comment and/or direct message). If the selected winner does not respond within 7 days, the claim expires and a new winner may be drawn.

7. Legal recourse
Legal recourse is excluded.

8. Facebook disclaimer
This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook and is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by Facebook. Any claims relating to the giveaway must be directed solely to the organizer.

9. Changes or cancellation
The organizer reserves the right to modify, suspend or end the giveaway without prior notice for good cause, including technical issues, manipulation or legal reasons.

10. Applicable law
German law applies.