This joint event has been attracting numerous visitors from near and far to Oberstein town center for more than 20 years. The weekend is rounded off by an open Sunday, during which the retail trade in the Oberstein district invites visitors to enjoy some shopping. The event is supported by Kreissparkasse Birkenfeld, OIE AG, the Bürkle Foundation, Globus Idar-Oberstein and the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry for Family Affairs, Women, Culture and Integration.
More than 25 years of the gemstone cutter and goldsmith market
At the foot of the Felsenkirche, around 50 exhibitors will be presenting the whole variety of gemstone and jewelry processing this year. They will be showing geodes, minerals and gemstones as well as gold and silver jewelry in a wide range of stylish and precious variations. The stands are set up in the lower pedestrian zone around the market square and the museum square as well as along Hauptstraße. Every quarter of an hour there are changing demonstrations of the various trades, which are announced on the tents in the form of stylized clock faces. There will be grinding, hammering, engraving and sawing and visitors will be able to look over the shoulders of the craftsmen. Being able to experience the creation of a piece of jewelry up close is unique in Germany. This unique market enchants visitors with its inexhaustible variety of treasures, the relaxed atmosphere and the street theater that takes place at the same time.
Acrobatics, poetry, music and comedy
On the OIE stage on Christuskirchplatz and in the pedestrian zone, national and international artists present poetic, comic, acrobatic and bizarre performances. All free of charge and outdoors, freely accessible in the open air, the attractive festival and market appeal to young and old alike. Strolling from one performance to the next and visiting the wonderful market stalls is - as always - the idea.
Spectators can look forward to outstanding artists at the street theater festival.
SOPALOCA - CALLE LOCA, a street theater band inspired by South American and tropical music. Cumbias, rumbas and salsas are re-orchestrated, colored with reggaeton, gently shifted, sometimes in an insanely humorous way. TEATRO DUE MONDI with its FIESTA program is a street theatre parade with the best ingredients of Italian tradition, transforming the venue into a Mediterranean festival. FLEURIANE CORNET shows something extraordinary with her BICYCLE ACROBATICS . She develops an almost poetic relationship with the bicycle, which is reflected in her unusual and seemingly effortless countless bicycle figures that flow into one another. Daring and crazy images inspire the audience. In PERE HOSTA - OPEN DOOR, a door appears out of nowhere. What a great opportunity to open it! And to know that there is the other side behind the door. But it turns out that the other side is us, our daily lives. An eccentric character, funny, surreal and witty moments. In NAKUPELLE with the program PAPER WORK, a street cleaner comes to clean the city streets and he finds garbage bags full of strange paper objects: magic books, paper animals and a strange aviator helmet. He is a simple street cleaner who dreams of flying and ends up realizing his dream. THEATER PASPARTOUT presents RATATA - DIE RATTENFANFARE, a wacky gang of rats that conquers the world beyond the sewers. As a gaudy rodent combo, they play music ranging from ratty to spicy. However, they can't always deny their lousy childhood. An animal delight!
Furthermore, with CIE. WILSON, SING! - "WHY NOT MAYBE PERHAPS", Stefan Sing, one of the most innovative contemporary jugglers in a duo with Liam Wilson, shows his skills. "Cie. Wilson, Sing!" is an abstract expressionist juggling painting in which the unwritten laws of juggling are taken ad absurdum and the juggling juggles the jugglers. "why not maybe perhaps" is the new piece by the two exceptional jugglers. NAKUPELLE - THE TRAP, one plan, one man, one plant. Technology and nature fight each other and have trapped an unfortunate fool in their midst. Sublime slapstick and poetic put-downs, crazy music and exuberant, physical comedy are the hallmarks of this unique and unusual performance. CONTAKT - Foley completes the outstanding program. Foley is a unique and captivating circus experience that explores the highs and lows of togetherness with exquisite live music. Five acrobats and a musician take you on a journey through different worlds, from moments of vulnerability and trust to light-heartedness and playful silliness. A must-see for anyone who loves circus, music or simply a good story.
Times and info
The stalls at the gemstone cutters' and goldsmiths' market are open on Saturdays from 10 am to 7 pm and on Sundays from 11 am to 6 pm. Further information can be found at www.schmuck-kultur.com.
The street theater starts at 1 pm. Timetable and further information at www.idar-oberstein.de/strassentheater.
Admission to both events is free.