It can be celebrated and sprinted again – after a two-year Corona break, Markgröningen is currently celebrating its home festival “Historischer Schäferlauf”. A highlight: the race on a stubble field. Barefoot of course. And not everyone is allowed to participate.
Markgröningen (dpa/lsw) – After a two-year break due to the corona virus, shepherds and shepherds meet again today for the traditional race on a stubble field in Markgröningen. According to a city spokeswoman, it will not be known until the day of the race itself how many women and men will take part in the barefoot run over the approximately 300-meter-long field. Five to ten barefoot runners are expected, she said. Only those who are shepherds or come from a shepherd family are allowed to participate. The award ceremony is right after the race. The winners will be named shepherd king or shepherd queen and will each receive a sheep donated by the state sheep breeding association.
According to the organizer, the Markgröninger Schäferlauf is one of the oldest folk festivals in southern Germany and is part of the Unesco cultural heritage. The festival started on Friday, lasts all weekend and ends on Monday with fireworks. In addition to the shepherd race, the highlight is the historic parade, and bands and traditional costume groups also perform. According to the city spokeswoman, a total of around 100,000 visitors are expected.
