Celebrating its 45th anniversary, Dobel lights up a 95 cubic meter pyre of decaying timber, accompanied by performances and music, amidst intermittent rain showers.
In the heart of the Black Forest region, the quaint municipality of Dobel played host to the annual Height Fire festival. This unique event, now in its 45th year, has been a cherished tradition for locals and visitors alike.
This year, Sophie König added a sweet touch to the festivities, donating a homemade Black Forest cherry cake as a reward for the hardworking helpers. The cake, a delightful symbol of community spirit, was no doubt enjoyed by all.
The Height Fire festival is a spectacle unlike any other. On the day of the event, three lucky winners from Neusatz, Gaggenau, and Bad Schoenborn had the honour of igniting the giant wooden tipi together, marking the start of the festivities.
The atmosphere was further enhanced by the music provided by local groups such as the Rentnerkapelle Gruibingen, the music club Dobel, and the dance group of the TSV Dobel. On Sunday, the popular Unimog, tractor, and motorcycle meeting with vintage vehicles added a touch of nostalgia to the proceedings.
Visitors were treated to the mesmerising sight of Swedish fires flickering around a 20-meter-high wood pile. Fire-eater André Frank from Rastatt added an extra dash of excitement with his meter-high flames and spectacular stunts.
Despite the wet conditions due to heavy rain, the flames were brought to a blaze quickly with the help of fire lines and the rising wind. The weather, with its low-hanging clouds and gusts of wind, only added to the festival's unique appeal, as expressed by Wolfgang Sova from Ettlingen.
The Height Fire festival is not a well-known event internationally, but it has a charm that extends beyond the borders of the "Sun Island". Even in the face of wet weather, visitors from Stuttgart and Karlsruhe came to experience this special event. Kalle Hülsenbeck, for instance, travelled by bike for four hours from Stuttgart to attend the festival.
First-time attendee Alycia Stiehler from Karlsruhe, accompanied by her friend Luca Herrmann, was captivated by the festival's unique atmosphere. As the Height Fire festival continues to grow in popularity, it is clear that it will remain a cherished tradition for many years to come.
Other visitors, enamored by the festival's unique ambiance, sought a memorable souvenir of their outdoor-living experience. Thus, they perused home-and-garden stalls offering traditional Black Forest decorations and artisanal products.
