Was ist los in Franken? Sept. 15, 2017

ANSBACH, Germany (Sept. 15, 2017) – “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout the Franconian region.

Altstadtfest Nürnberg (Photo: Stadt Nürnberg)

Wochenmarkt Ansbach
The Wochenmarkt Ansbach is a typical German market featuring fresh goods like vegetables, flowers, meats, home-made noodles or ice cream, fresh-baked bread, cheeses and other dairy products. The vendors are often farmers from the area, who sell their own products. They set up their carts and stands on Martin-Luther-Platz twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (except German holidays).

Altstadtfest – Nürnberg
The traditional Altstadtfest downtown Nürnberg, scheduled for Sept. 14 through 25, is one of the most popular highlights in the Franconian event calendar. The Hans-Sachs-Platz and Insel Schütt turn into fest grounds with wooden huts that offer local culinary specialties; the entertainment program includes cultural and traditional events, like the Fischerstechen, an event that includes boats on the river and people with long poles pushing each other off these boats. Program details and other information can be found at www.altstadtfest-nue.de

Fall Market in Nürnberg
The Nürnberg “Herbstmarkt” takes place on the main market place (Hauptmarkt) downtown Sept. 14 through Oct. 1; vendors sell household goods, pottery, clothes and arts and crafts. Opening hours are daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. To learn more, visit Trempelmarkt

Kirchweih Herrieden
The traditional Herrieder Kirchweih takes place on the Festplatz, just outside the city gate, the Storchenturm, along the Altmühl River, Sept. 15 through 18. The opening ceremony starts with a concert on Marktplatz on Friday at 6:45 p.m., followed by the tapping of the first keg by the mayor at 7:15 p.m. inside the fest tent. Fest rides and vending booths complete the Kirchweih experience. The Herrieden stores will be open on Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m.

Grafflmarkt – Fürth
The Grafflmarkt in Fürth, a large flea market downtown, takes place on Sept.15 and 16 between Gustavstrasse, Grüner Markt and Paisleyplatz. Opening times are Friday 4 – 10 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Herbstfest at Freilandmuseum Bad Windsheim
The Bad Windsheim Freilandmuseum on Eisweiherweg 1 is hosting a fall fest Sept. 16 and 17; visitors can experience old crafts and skills and watch the processing of fruit and vegetables into juice, slaw, oil flour and much more. For details go to www.freilandmuseum.de

Miltenberger Weinherbst
The wine town Miltenberg is hosting a wine fall fest at Engelplatz Sept. 22 through Oct. 3; the fest is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Oct. 1 is open shop Sunday.

Doggie pool day at Stadionbad – Nürnberg
The Stadionbad in Nünberg (Hans-Kalb-Straße 42) is celebrating the end of the outdoor pool season with a pool day for dogs Sept. 23. Doggies are allowed to jump into the non-swimmer pool from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The admission per dog is 4.50 Euros: mom and dad enter for free, but are not allowed to join their pooches in the water. Just in case they will be handed a “doo-doo bag” at the entrance for untimely accidents. Visit Hundebadetag for more information.

Fall market in Cadolzburg
The town of Cadolzburg hosts a fall market Sept. 23 and 24 downtown at the Markplatz from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Local craftsmen, artists and producers from Franconia offer culinary specialties, arts and crafts. Combine the trip with a visit of the freshly renovated Cadolzburg castle, which is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Mondays (in September – new hours apply for winter months). To learn more, visit www.cadolzburg.de or www.burg-cadolzburg.de.

Culinary wine walk in Iphofen
The traditional Frankenwein town of Iphofen is hosting a culinary wine walk through open vineyard estates, museums and galleries and the historical downtown district Sept. 24 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn more, visit Weinspaziergang Iphofen

Beyond the Franconian borders …

Oktoberfest in Munich
The Oktoberfest in Munich – the original Oktoberfest – is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world’s largest fair with more than 6 million people from around the world attending every year. It started out as a royal wedding celebration in October 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen; the fields, where the celebration took place, were named Theresienwiese (“Therese’s Meadow”) in honor of the crown princess.

The Oktoberfest, also known as the “Wies’n,” takes place on Munich’s Theresienwiese Sept. 16 to Oct. 3. The midway is open daily from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (30 minutes longer on the weekends); the beer tents have the same opening hours, but the last beer will be served an hour before closure.

Highlights: Highlights of the Oktoberfest – besides the numerous rides, attractions and tents – include the opening parade of the Wiesn-Wirte (tent owners) Sept. 16 at 11 a.m., the traditional garb and master shooters parade (Trachten- und Schützenzug) Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. or the traditional gun-salute on the steps of the Bavaria monument at noon Oct. 3.

Official family days with reduced prices are Tuesdays from noon to 6 p.m. Since there is no parking anywhere close to the location, visitors are encouraged to come to town by train or take advantage of the park & ride system and leave their vehicle at a public transportation stop outside of the city, using the subway (U-Bahn) to get there.

Security concept: The security concept of the Oktoberfest is based on decades of experience and constantly reviewed. New this year will be a “security fence” along open stretches as well as a ban of back packs and larger bags; smaller bags are subject to search. Strollers are only allowed on weekdays until 6 p.m.; completely forbidden are items like glass bottles, gas spry cans or knives. On the busier days, like the weekends, visitors are advised to refrain from bringing small children.

For more information about the Oktoberfest go to www.oktoberfest.de/en

Pumpkin Festival in Ludwigsburg
The annual pumpkin festival on Ludwigsburg’s castle grounds (Marbacher Strasse 10, 71640 Ludwigsburg, Germany) is open now until Nov. 5. Visitors can expect spectacular works of art created from 450 000 pumpkins and gourds, or admire more than 500 variations of the vegetable; this year’s overarching theme is “Rome.” Culinary delights like pumpkin soup, burgers or strudel can be tried on site. For more details, visit Kürbisausstellung-English or www.facebook.com/kuerbisausstellung

Volksmarch Hiking Days
Volksmarches or “Internationale Wandertage” are a form of non-competitive physical fitness training, which takes the participants through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Germany. The walking distance varies from 5 to 10 or 20 kilometer routes on scenic trails through forests, along rivers and lakes or around historic sites. There is no set start time, but a window of time for hikers to start the route, and finish it at their own pace. Trails are typically marked well along the way. Many trails are stroller-friendly and provide great opportunity to explore the countryside. After the walk the local hiking clubs usually offer food and drink in a hall or tent, sometimes even at a half-way point. Avid hikers can get a hiking passport stamped each place they participate, and many clubs reward their visitors with a small token.

Wandertag in Oberasbach near Nürnberg
The Oberasbach hiking days Sept. 16 and 17 take hikers over 6, 10, 20 or 42 km distances. Start times are Saturday 6:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. (6, 10, 20 km) and 6:30 – 9 a.m. (42 km), and Sunday 6:30 a.m. to noon (6, 10, 20 km) und 6:30 – 9 a.m. (42 km), with start and finish at DJK Halle (St. Johannes Straße 6, 90522 Oberasbach)

The information on local host nation events is provided through the auspices of the USAG Ansbach Public Affairs Office (PAO). All details provided are for informational purposes only and are a representation of typical events conducted in the local community. The PAO grants no element of exclusivity to any outside agency or business and any reference to commercial or retail activities implies no endorsement or recommendation by the U. S. Army or its agencies. Participation in any event or activity described herein is strictly voluntary and should be done so only after careful advisement and consideration of the safety and security environment at each specific location.