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The event which enjoys an almost cult status among the KMC is back for another round! The Rotweinwanderung is a hike through barren, wintry vineyards, punctuated with many stops for a warming mulled wine or tasty varietals from the immediate area. This convivial fest makes for an extraordinary day in the great outdoors at a time of year when we all too often find ourselves cooped up in the house. The annual three-day event kicking off the Pfalz’s wine festival season runs Jan. 24-26.
To pair with the wine, a variety of hearty, warming winter treats are sold at several of the 16 stands along a four mile route: Currywurst, schashlik stew, baked camembert, potato pancakes and pulled pork represent just a hint of the treats just waiting to be sampled.
At 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, the local FV Freinsheim athletics club organizes its annual “Volkslauf auf dem Ochselkopf,” a 10 km challenge through hilly local terrain.
It’s free to take part in the walk on all days. Parking will be banned within city limits. Even though they’re typically jam-packed, trains are for obvious reasons a good alternative if nobody’s up for the drive. From Kaiserslautern, take the S1 commuter train as far as Neustadt an der Weinstrasse and connect there with the bus number 509 heading in the direction of Lustadt Siedlung and disembark in Freinsheim. Remember, a group day ticket can save you cash that’s better spent on wine and snacks. A day ticket for up to five persons from Kaiserslautern to the fest and back on the VRN public transportation network will set you back 34.20 euros or thereabouts. Those making the trek from the Wiesbaden area might wish to buy a Rheinland-Pfalz ticket; five can travel together on that for 45 euros. When purchased online and printed out at home, it’s valid for use from the Wiesbaden main train station on into Mainz, at which point you’re no longer in Hesse but in the Rhineland-Palatinate, where the ticket is valid on all the regional lines. The quickest route involves a connection in Frankenthal and takes about an hour from Mainz’s central station.
