Speyer Altstadtfest — Accompanying Program SKG Pretzel Festival Parade

Brezelfestumzug as the Opening

The Brezelfestumzug is the traditional opening parade for the Speyerer Brezelfest — the largest Volksfest in the cathedral city, held annually around the second weekend of July. While the Brezelfest itself (documented in a separate fiche) involves several days of festivities on the festival grounds, the parade is the ceremonial opening on Sunday afternoon.

Route Through the City Center

The parade winds through Speyer's city center — along a route that covers key axes of the old town. The start is in Burgstraße, continuing via Bahnhofstraße, and finally along Maximilianstraße to the Festplatz (festival grounds). This route takes the parade along Speyer's most important streets, making it highly visible to visitors in the city center.

Motorized Vehicles, Walking Groups, Music Ensembles

The parade participants are diverse. Motorized vehicles — old tractors, festively decorated floats, club trucks, horse-drawn carriages — provide the visual spectacle. Walking groups from Speyer and the surrounding region march along with club banners and costumes. Music ensembles — brass bands, pipe bands, other bands — give the parade its acoustic profile. The registration of participating groups is coordinated by the Verkehrsverein Speyer in advance.

Whip Crackers from Ravenna

Whip crackers from Ravenna add an international flair. Ravenna is Speyer's Italian partner city — the whip crackers (Italian: "Schiocchatori della frusta") are an Emilian-Romagnol folk tradition where the loud cracking of long whips is used choreographically and rhythmically. The participation of this Italian group is a vibrant demonstration of the Speyer-Ravenna partnership.

Verkehrsverein Speyer as Organizer

The parade is organized by the Verkehrsverein Speyer — the traditional organizer of numerous major Speyer events (Brezelfest, Christmas Market, Partner Cities Market, Chai Festival). The association collaborates with the City of Speyer, the police (traffic management), the Brezelfest showmen, and the participating clubs.