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ANSBACH, Germany (April 8, 2019) — “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout the Franconian region.
Spring Awakening – Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Many different events welcome the spring season in Rothenburg o.d. Tauber between March 30 and April 30. Easter fountains are decorated, restaurants serve special dishes and guided tours explain historical background. To learn more about the Rothenburg activities, go to www.rothenburg.de
Osterbrunnen A few weeks before Easter many Franconian communities adorn their well or fountain with fresh spring greens and hand-painted colorful eggs. The origins of the “Osterbrunnen” tradition can be traced back to the Fränkische Schweiz (‘Franconian Switzerland’), a region located between the cities of Bamberg, Bayreuth and Forchheim, from where it spread to other areas. Tourists flock to the Fränkische Schweiz as participants of Osterbrunnen tours, hikers and bikers combine their outings with stops at different locations to admire the many little works of art. The tourist offices of the region offer different routes and locations for visitors. For a sample list of Osterbrunnen villages, go to https://www.fraenkische-schweiz.com/de/erleben/sehenswert/osterbrunnen/osterbrunnen.html
Easter Market in Nürnberg The traditional annual Ostermarkt takes place on Nürnberg’s Hauptmarkt April 5 – 22. More than 80 vendors are offering household products, wood and ceramic crafts, curtains, clothes, books and much more. Opening hours are 10 a.m. – 7 p.m; closed Good Friday, April 19! To learn more, go to http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/marktamt/ostermarkt.html
Frühlingsfest – Nürnberg The annual spring fest, considered the largest of its kind in Northern Bavaria, is scheduled for April 20 through May 5 at the Dutzendteich in Nürnberg. Visitors find the latest fair rides, several beer tents, food galore and many special events. Wednesdays are family days with reduced prices between 1 and 9 p.m. For more details, map and opening hours go to www.volksfest-nuernberg.de
Spring fest in Bad Windsheim The Bad Windsheim spring fest is open April 20 – 28 at Festplatz am Schießwasen (Am Schießwasen 2); for details contact the Bad Windsheim Tourist Office at Tel. 09841/402-0 or tourismus@bad-windsheim.de
Berglauf Burgbernheim
Burgbernheim is hosting a running competition called “Berglauf” (hill run) Sunday, April 28. Distances vary from 600 meters (Bambini) to 2 kilometers for students, and 5.2 and 13.6 kilometers for more ambitious runners, all starting between 9:30 and 11:55 a.m. To learn more about the event, visit www.tsvburgbernheim.de, www.burgbernheimer-berglauf.de or https://www.facebook.com/BurgbernheimerBerglauf
Herbs and Spices Market in Bad Windsheim
The outdoor museum in Bad Windsheim is hosting an herbs and spices market April 27 through May 12; visitors can find unusual spices and healing herbs, and learn about botanic details and history. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/225801601617329
German holiday – May 1
May 1 is Tag der Arbeit, the German ‘Labor Day,’ and is a nationally observed holiday, which means that stores and businesses will remain closed and public transportation services will be reduced. In larger cities demonstrations and parades organized by unions or political parties can be expected.
Mayday is also often enjoyed as a hiking day by locals; a little wagon is packed with supplies, food and drink, and walkers enjoy nature as it unfolds for the growing season. Drivers should be on the look-out for groups of people unexpectedly crossing country roads. To read more about May Day traditions, visit https://ansbachhometownherald.com/may-day
Blaue Nacht in Nürnberg
The “Blaue Nacht” (Blue Night) in Nürnberg takes place Saturday, May 3, starting at 7 p.m. It is a night filled with special events, artistic displays and, of course, blue lights everywhere. For a detailed program and more information, check http://www.blauenacht.nuernberg.de/English.
Ansbach City Lauf — Running Fun in Ansbach
The annual Ansbach City-Lauf, a race for everybody with distances of 6.5 k, 10 k or half marathon, as well as different age groups, takes place downtown Ansbach Sunday, May 5. Start and finishing point is the Brücken-Center mall, but race tracks are spread out. Traffic will be rerouted for a large part of the day to accommodate the runners. To learn more, visit www.ansbacher-citylauf.de
Open House at the Exotic Animal Sanctuary in Ansbach
The mini zoo for rescued tigers and other exotic animals in Ansbach-Wallersdorf is hosting their monthly open house Sunday, May 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. Guided tours take place every full hour. Visitors will be well taken care of with beverages and food. Admission is free, but donations are always welcome. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/429648800904869
Ansbach Spring Fest
The Ansbach spring fest starts May 17 with the official tapping of the first keg by the lord mayor at 6:30 p.m. at the Festplatz (Nürnberger Strasse). Music, entertainment and rides will be offered daily until May 22; for detailed information go to www.festzelte-gschrey.de
Brückentag — Word of the Week
In spring time, a few German holidays fall on a Thursday. Germans love to take a Brückentag — a bridge day — to prolong the weekend attached to it and take off several days in a row. They use those days to take short trips, take care of unfinished business or do a lot of shopping.
Weinfest Ansbach
Ansbach is hosting its first ever wine festival May 29 through June 2 downtown o Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Platz. About 30 different wines from Franconian wine producers can be sampled under the canopy of trees; vendors are offering fish, Flammkuchen and Franconian Bratwurst. The opening ceremony with the Franconian Wine Queen takes place Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. To learn more, visit https://citymarketing-ansbach.de/ansbacher-weinfest-2
German Holiday – Vatertag
May 30 marks a German holiday, Christi Himmelfahrt or Christ’s Ascension Day. As always, stores and businesses will remain closed. It is also the German Father’s Day, often celebrated with traditional outings of groups of men hiking the countryside while pulling a hand-cart loaded with cold beverages. Germans like to take off the following Friday as a “Brückentag” (‘bridge day’) and enjoy an extended weekend.
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).
Second Hand Bazaars for Parents
Parents are cleaning out the closets of their ever-growing offspring and take it to numerous “Kinderbasars” or “Baby-Basars” happening in the area this time of the year. Look for posters or flyers advertising the bazaars for second hand clothing, toys and equipment; usually they take place on a Saturday afternoon in the local church annex, school or community center.
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. To find local hikes, visit https://www.dvv-wandern.de/regionales-angebot/franken.html
Guided hike around Rothenburg
A guided hike in the area of Rothenburg o.d. Tauber takes place April 12, starting at 2 p.m. at the Sporthalle (Erlbacher Straße 5, 91541 Rothenburg o.d.T.) Available distances are 6 and 11 kilometers. To learn more, visit https://www.dvv-wandern.de/files/documents/ausschreibungen_wandertage/fr/2019/gtw_12april2019_rothenburg.pdf
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.
