Nuremberg Christmas Market (Nuernberger Christkindlesmarkt) in Nuremberg
Photo courtesy of flickr: gimmeahug
Millions of sparkling lights, a spectacular nativity scene, beautiful ornaments, carved nutcrackers, handmade toys, beeswax candles, tons of gingerbread and the smell of roasted almonds, Stollen or hot mulled wine are just a few of the things you can find at this Christmas Market. The Nuremberg Christmas Angel opens her Christmas Market every year on the Friday before the first Advent until after Christmas. Germany has more than 2,500 Christmas Markets, but this “Little Town from Wood and Cloth” is the best. The German Center for Tourism even awarded Nuremberg with the title of “Number One Christmas City”. If you would like to have a truly unique souvenir, you need to buy the “Nuremberg Plum People”, little figures made from prunes.
Love Parade (Loveparade) in Duisburg
Photo courtesy of flickr: djtko
The Love Parade, which started 20 years ago in Berlin, is one of the biggest dance/electronic music festivals in the world. More than one million people attended this gigantic party in Dortmund in 2008. Trance, House, Techno and other music styles blast from oversized speakers on trucks that usually feature local, or important, clubs and their DJs. The actual parade starts around 2pm; going on until the evening and then splitting into hundreds of after parties, transforming the entire city into one big club. This festival is not only famous for its loud music, but also for the people and their outfits. You can see colorful wigs, furry leg-warmers, body painting, kinky costumes, feathers and definitely a lot of skin. Once called” the greatest amateur circus on Earth” describes the Love Parade best. The next festival will be held in Duisburg in 2010.
Kiel Week (Kieler Woche) in Kiel
Photo courtesy of flickr: Laenulfean
Kieler Woche is the biggest summer festival in Northern Europe and even more important the world’s biggest sailing event. But it is not only about water, sailing and ships, there is something for everybody: International foods and drinks, music, ship parades with new and historic ships, large fireworks, exhibitions, street performers like clowns, acrobats and magicians, comedy, children corners, classical performances like ballet and the Kiel Philharmonic Orchestra, sport competitions and many other exciting things to do. More than three million visitors from all over the world come to the ten-day party in the end of June. This festival is a must, if you are in the North of Germany. Kiel Week Dates: 2009: 20.06.2009 – 28.06.20092010: 19.06.2010 – 27.06.2010
Oktoberfest in Munich
Photo courtesy of flickr: Strudelmonkey
Oktoberfest is probably the most famous festival in Germany and the largest fair in the world. “The wiesn” as it is also called is known for the famous Oktoberfest beer, the huge amounts of food (like sausages, sauerkraut, potato pancakes and pretzels), Dirndls and Lederhosen as well as the traditional Bavarian bands and the friendly people. The official opening ceremony in 2009 will be on September 19th at Noon in the Schottenhamel tent. The current Mayor of Munich will tap the first keg of Oktoberfest beer with the traditional cry O`zapft is! It means “It is tapped!“ in the Bavarian dialect. After that, all visitors can start to drink huge beers in the famous steins or any other drink. You should come early, around 9am to secure good seats. It is worth it, because the opening ceremony is one of my personal highlights. Another highlight is the costume parade on the first Sunday of the festivities. It is held in the morning and showcases Bavarian culture and folklore. The festival this year will last until October 4th, 2009.
Here are some dates for the future:
2010: September 18 – October 3
2011: September 17 – October 3
2012: September 22 – October 7
Carnival in Mainz
Photo courtesy of flickr: SheriffMitchell
Mainz is famous for its 5th season, as the “Mainzers” like to call it. They start to prepare for Carnival November 11th. This is the official start of the season. Fastnacht, the German word for Carnival is for everybody and it is F U N. You can expect parties, big parades, costumes (from the youngest to the oldest people), music and craziness in each street. Normal people become kings and queens, famous celebrities or just clowns. There is plenty of food and drinks (especially wine) served everywhere. The biggest highlight is the parade (Rosenmontagszug). It is seven kilometers long and has about 8000 people participating in it. Candy, fruit, treats and favors fly through the air, thrown from huge floats and displays. Hundreds of musicians and bands make the people on the side of the streets go crazy. Over half million people are watching the spectacle and the whole city celebrates together. The parade is on a Monday in the end of February. This is a must for all the Carnival lovers in the world!
By Ina Jung
View Original Best Festivals in Germany Guide, read more guides, and create your own on Ruba.
Erin Kiskis is the Community Manager at Ruba, a new online travel site that lets users share their favorite places and travel experiences in a highly visual guide format. She’d rather spend all her time actually traveling if she could.
Her favorite places to travel are Kenya and Australia and her favorite things to do on vacation are take photos and eat bizarre and delicious foods.
