Despite the mixed weather, numerous families took advantage of the children's festival on 1 June in the Bliesbruck-Reinheim European Cultural Park to experience exciting discovery activities together and enjoy the varied hands-on programme.
Right at the start, the seats around the viewing hill quickly filled up to marvel at Maxim Maurice's magic tricks. His programme was met with great enthusiasm by young and old alike.
The wide range of activities - such as pottery, mosaic laying, making herbal or bath salts, painting helmets, swords and shields - awakened the spirit of discovery and creativity in the German and French visitors. The Reinheim primary school support association invited children to take part in face painting and the children were only too happy to be transformed into little works of art. The Junior Rangers also had their hands full showing the young guests how to burn spoons, for example. And in the small sculpture workshop, creative youngsters were able to carve Ytong (wall blocks made of aerated concrete). Some of the Roman games required skill and brains. The giant soap bubbles not only delighted children. Thanks to the refreshing wind, they were carried far across the site.
The Roman group Legio XIIII Gemina took a small detour into antiquity. There was also plenty to discover in their legionary camp. There were actually long queues at the archery range. Many wanted to try out their marksmanship. The Roman snack offered in the camp at lunchtime was also very popular.
The eventful adventure trip was rounded off with free and informative guided tours of the museums in Reinheim and a nature-related tour in Bliesbruck. The children's festival was a special experience for families and the physical well-being was well catered for
Further information on the European Cultural Park and other events can be found at: www.europaeischer-kulturpark.de or by calling (06843) 900211.