More joint events in 2025
Altstadtfest 2025: behind the counter there is work to do while making new connections and nurturing old friendships
The friendship between our two towns has flourished for many years now, and we always look forward to our twice yearly ‘official’ visits. But there are other events that twinners in both countries take part in – for example, Eppingen’s biennial Altstadtfest (Old Town Festival) has always attracted visitors from Epping. And in 2025 Epping’s equivalent, its annual Town Show, also welcomed visitors from Eppingen. Every visit brings us a little closer, enabling new friendships to be made and existing ones to be strengthened.
Altstadtfest 2025
Eleven twinners from Epping travelled to Eppingen to take part in the 2025 Old Town Festival during the weekend of 26–27 July. This event takes place every other year and also has representation from Eppingen’s other twinning partnerships, Wassy in France and Szigetvár in Hungary. It features many events including dance and music.
As with Epping’s Town Show, there are many stands representing local organisations. The ones promoting each of Eppingen’s twin towns also sell traditional food and drink, and their close proximity enabled twinners from all three countries to get to know one another. The UK stand this time featured whisky and Guinness (neither is particularly associated with Epping, but no one complained!), along with jacket potatoes.
Some heavy rain meant that fewer people attended than usual – but many who did sought shelter at the twinning stands. So the UK stand, manned jointly by Epping and Eppingen twinners, did a roaring trade especially on the Saturday evening. The whole event turned out to be a fun-filled occasion and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Epping Forest Band also travelled to Eppingen at the invitation of their own twinning partner, Eppingen’s Stadtkapelle (Town Band). They could be heard at the opening ceremony of the Altstadtfest, and later gave a lively performance on stage to great acclaim.
Epping Town Show 2025
The annual Town Show is organised by Epping Town Council, and takes place at Stonards Hill Recreation Ground. This year it was on Sunday 6 July. There was some heavy rain but it didn’t mar the occasion – unlike last year’s near-total washout! The event features arena displays, music performances, entertainment, food stalls and much more. It is also an opportunity for local businesses and voluntary organisations to promote their activities.
The photo includes Neil Hudson MP (4th from left), Heike Lachowitzer (Eppingen chairperson, 5th), Barbara Scruton (Epping chairperson, 7th), Councillor Janet Whitehouse (Epping Town Mayor, 9th) and Derek Humphrey (event organiser, 10th). Photo credit: David Jackman
The twinning association had a stand as usual, which attracted a lot of interest. There was a competition where people tried to identify German places from photos – not an easy task, even for the two visitors from Eppingen who joined us this year. The twinning stand was also visited by the local MP and the Mayor of Epping, and greetings were exchanged between the Epping and Eppingen municipalities.
