German village festivals attract crowds despite summer heat

The volunteer fire brigade of Habach held its traditional three‑day forest festival at the local sports field, drawing many visitors in spite of unusually high summer temperatures. The program featured a welcome by district chief René Finkler, a menu of grilled skewers, sausage dishes and salads, and musical performances by the fire department’s fanfare band, with appearances by the mayor and local officials.

In neighboring Hochheim, the annual village festival took place over the first weekend of July, offering coffee and cake from local kindergartens, cocktails mixed by a cultural‑association member, and a ribbon‑cutting ceremony by Ortsvorsteher Patrick Mais. The event included speeches, live music from a guitar duo and a brass band, senior‑citizen rickshaw rides, and a traditional White‑sausage breakfast, all organized by local parties and community groups.