For some years now the so-called "dark culture" meets at the end of August in Speyer at the Medieval Phantasy Spectaculum, or MPS. The event can already be noticed in the central Maximillianstrasse, where lots of people in black or in medieval costumes can be seen. The event takes place in the Cathedral Garden and in the Klipfelsau and is completely fenced off. The admission fee is rather steep, because there are popular bands playing, which is included. Inside there is, among others, a medieval market and several stages where there are matching artists performing.
In 2024, the festival was endangered for a short while, because a regulation for protecting trees doese not really allow such events there. In the Cathedral Garden there are many stately old trees. But in the end there was agreement for a procedure that made everybody happy.