Walpurgis Night in Löffingen starts every Carnival Monday at 19:30. This gruesome carnival spectacle has been performed by the Hexengruppe Löffingen (witches' group) since 1934.
Whether Walpurgisnacht was first performed in 1928 or 1929 is not yet clear. However, this gruesome carnival spectacle has been performed by the witches' group since 1934. Walpurgis Night may take place elsewhere on the night of 1 May, but here in Löffingen things are different.
The text for this unique play was written around 1920 by the Löffingen citizen Leo Ratzer, who was unable to actively participate in carnival himself due to a physical disability. Thanks to his knowledge of local history, Ratzer provided valuable inspiration for the Löffingen Carnival. The music that gets under your skin was written by Prof. Dr Hermann Regner and has been played by the Löffinger Stadtmusik (local music chapel) ever since.
In this play, the witches have to prove their right to exist at carnival time. At the end, the ghost appears as a mediator between the witches and the devil, convincing the devil with his statements in favour of the witches.
Walpurgis Night in Löffingen, which always begins at 7.30 pm on Carnival Monday, has developed into a crowd-puller over the last 40 years.
Radio and television have often reported on this highlight of the Löffingen carnival. The decisive factors for the continuing success of this spectacle are certainly the play with colours, the well thought-out texts, the spectacular fireworks and the perfect coordination with the Stadtmusik of Löffingen.