Weinhexennacht Oberwesel — Walpurgisnacht

The Weinhexennacht Oberwesel is one of the oldest and most special Walpurgisnacht celebrations on the Middle Rhine. On the night of April 30th to May 1st — Walpurgisnacht — the Weinhex' becomes the central figure of a custom that combines ancient Germanic spring rites, Christian May Day celebrations, and the wine tradition of the Middle Rhine into a unique ritual.

The focus is on the historic market square of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Oberwesel, surrounded by medieval half-timbered houses and the characteristic defensive towers of the city fortifications. Here, the central spectacle of the night is staged: the symbolic burning of the outgoing Wine Witch, followed by the ascent of the new Wine Witch from a large wine barrel — accompanied by elaborate fireworks.

The figure of the Wine Witch is an invention of Oberwesel's wine marketing, which has served as an ambassador for Middle Rhine wines for years and is embodied by a elaborately costumed performer. The changing of the Wine Witch on Walpurgisnacht symbolically represents the transition from winter to spring, from the old to the new wine season.

The program surrounding the central ritual act is extensive. Starting in the late afternoon, a guided wine hike through the vineyards of Oberwesel's municipal area takes place — the Middle Rhine, with its steep slopes, is famous here for its Riesling wines, which are among the finest in Germany. The hike ends at the market square, where the festivities continue throughout the evening.

Further program points include the traditional raising of the Maypole, live music on a stage at the market square (from folk and traditional music to rock and pop), gastronomic stands with Middle Rhine wines, Federweißer (newly fermented wine), mulled wine, and regional specialties, as well as a lively dance night well past midnight. The spectacular highlight — the burning of the old and the ascent of the new Wine Witch with fireworks — typically takes place around midnight.

The Weinhexennacht attracts several thousand visitors each year from the Middle Rhine, Mosel, and Hunsrück regions, as well as from the Rhine-Main area. It is considered one of the unique dates in the event calendar of the World Heritage region and is traditionally supported by Oberwesel wineries, gastronomy, and city marketing.