Was ist los in Franken? Aug. 21, 2015

ANSBACH, Germany (Aug. 21, 2015) — “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout Lower, Upper and Middle Franconia.

Sandkerwa in Bamberg
The popular Sandkerwa on Obere Sandstrasse in Bamberg takes place Aug. 20 through 24. Highlights include the Fischerstechen, a competition involving boats, long poles and many people fallen into the river, as well as a boat parade in the dark. To learn more, visit www.sandkerwa.de.

Wine Fest in Bad Kissingen
The Kissinger Weinfest takes place Aug. 20 through 24 on the historical market place in Rosenstadt. Live music is played every night, while visitors enjoy local wines and food. To learn more, visit www.weinfest-badkissingen.de.

Night Flea Market in Nürnberg
An unusual indoor night flea market takes place in the Sternensaal (Berliner Platz 9) in Nürnberg on Friday, Aug. 21, starting at 6 p.m. Vendors will offer anything from clothing, shoes and purses to jewelry and home decorations until midnight. The kitchen will prepare Thai street food, a DJ plays music after midnight. Admission cost is 1 euro per persom; to learn more, go to http://parks-nuernberg.de/cms/?s=NightMarket.

Wine fest in Hüttenheim
The “Kirchenburgweinfest” in Hüttenheim (near Iphofen) on Aug. 21 through 23 is considered one of the most romantic Franconian wine festivals. The Kirchenburg (church fortress) provides the historical backgrgound for a fest centered on local wines and food. To learn more, visit http://www.willanzheim.de/dorfleben/terminkalender/details/events/kirchenburgweinfest-huettenheim-5897.html.

Altmühlsee Festival
Several bands, placed around the Altmühlsee, perform at the lake festival on Aug. 22, starting at 7 p.m. A free shuttle bus brings visitors from one location to the next; the paths are also suitable for bicycles. To learn more about the program and other details, visit http://www.altmuehlsee-festival.de.

Schlosshof Festival in Höchstadt
The Schlosshof Festival on Schlossberg in Höchstadt a.d.Aisch on Aug. 22 from noon to midnight offers a medieval market, a fire show and live music. To learn more, visit www.schlosshof-festival.de.

Jazztime Ansbach
Jazztime Ansbach brings New Orleans Jazz and Franconian singers together at the Museumshof in downtown Ansbach on Aug. 23 at 11 a.m. Tickets are available at the Ansbach Tourist Office on Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Platz 1.

Kirchweih – Bad Windsheim
The Bad Windsheim Kirchweih takes place at the Festplatz on Schiesswasen on August 28 through Sept. 1; a large fireworks display closes out the fest on Tuesday at about 10 p.m. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1449827782007748

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.

* Aug. 29 and 30: Leinburg, 5, 10, and 20 km with Wanderfreunde 1985 Leinburg, 09120-6108. Start: 7 a.m. — 1 a.m. at Schützenhaus, Nürnberger Straße 47, 91227 Leinburg. To learn more, visit http://www.dvv-wandern.de/files/documents/ausschreibungen_wandertage/fr/2015/Leinburg29.u.30.08.2015.pdf

* Sept. 5 and 6: Kitzingen, 6, 10, and 20 km with Wanderclub “Schiefer-Turm” Kitzingen, 09321-32756. Start: 7 a.m. — 1 a.m. at Sportzentrum Sickergrund, Sickershäuserstr. 4, 97318 Kitzingen. To learn more, go to http://www.dvv-wandern.de/files/documents/ausschreibungen_wandertage/fr/2015/Kitzingen05u.06.09.2015_ohneWerbung.pdf

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).

Traffic Jams and German School Break
As several German states are already on summer break, or just starting, the metropolitan region of Nürnberg is expected to be jammed with “staus,” especially on A3 near Erlangen, and on A6 between Nürnberg and Schwabach. Heavy traffic is expected in both directions, as many travelers are already returning from vacation.
The summer break in Bavaria ends September 14; the children in Baden-Württemberg finish two days earlier. Expect heavy traffic and long traffic jams, especially on the Autobahns going south and coming back during that time. For current traffic updates visit www.bayerninfo.de (in English), www.adac.de/reise_freizeit/verkehr, www.verkehrsinfo.de or www.verkehrsinformation.de

Adventure Pass and Admission for a Discount
The “Entdeckerpass” – discovery passport – for the larger Nürnberg region offers many discounts and good deals on access for a multitude of adventures and places. The passport is valid for the rest of the calendar year in the area between Weißenburg, Hof, Kitzingen and Weiden. It can be ordered at www.enteckerpass.com (3.50 euros S&H). A 20% discount is applied during Bavarian summer vacation time (until Sept 13) if three or more passes are ordered at once. To learn more, go to www.entdeckerpass.com or https://www.facebook.com/EntdeckerPass