Was ist los in Franken? Aug. 24, 2018

Ludwigsburg pumpkin festival (Photo credit: Jessica Sowders)

ANSBACH, Germany (Aug. 24, 2018) – “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout the Franconian region.

Herbstvolksfest – Nürnberg
The Nürnberg Fall Fest is one of the largest and nicest fests in Bavaria; visitors will find plenty of fun rides, beer tents and food stands, as well as an entertainment program for everybody. The fest from Aug. 24 to Sept. 9 is located on the Dutzendteich (Bayernstrasse). Details are available at www.volksfest-nuernberg.de.

Pumpkin Festival in Ludwigsburg
The annual pumpkin festival on Ludwigsburg’s castle grounds (Marbacher Strasse 10, 71640 Ludwigsburg, Germany) is open Aug. 31 to Nov. 4. Visitors can expect spectacular works of art created from 450 000 pumpkins and gourds, or admire more than 500 variations of the vegetable. Culinary delights like pumpkin soup, burgers or strudel can be tried on site. For more details, visit www.kuerbisausstellung-ludwigsburg.de/en  or https://www.facebook.com/kuerbisausstellung

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 on Sunday, Sept. 2 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/788277884705177

“Onion Stomper“ Fest in Bamberg
The annual Zwiebeltreterfest on the Böhmerwiese (Heiliggrabstraße 57) takes place Sept. 6 through 9; music and culinary specialties entertain the adults, while the kids can spend time with arts and crafts or enjoy the bouncy castle. In case of inclement weather the fest is moved to a tent. Admission is free; to learn more go to www.zwiebeltreterfest.de .

Flea Market in Nürnberg
Germany’s largest flea market, the Trempelmarkt in Nürnberg takes place twice a year; this fall it will take place on Sept. 7 and 8; more than 4000 vendors are offering their junk and treasures on and around the Hauptmarkt on Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. Taking public transportation is recommended, since parking will be very limited. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/319490548583772/ or  go to http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/marktamt/trempel.html

Burggrabenfest zu Nürnberg
The Burggrabenfest in Nürnberg is a medieval fest for the whole family, taking place Sept. 7 through 9 in the city moat below the castle (Hallertor). Show fights, medieval camp life and fire spectacles bring the middle ages back to life. Young knights can spend their energy on a knight’s playground, try their talent with balancing on a rope or compete with bow and arrow.

Opening hours are Friday 2 – 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free under three years of age, 3 euros at age 4 – 12 and 6 euros for 13 years and above; family tickets for two adults and two children are 6 euros. For more information go to www.burggrabenfest.de.

Reichsstadt-Festtage – Rothenburg
The Reichsstadt-Festtage or Imperial Days in Rothenburg ob der Tauber Sept. 7 through 9 celebrate the history of the old Imperial city. Every century is represented with its unique clothing and stories. The festival includes many different events and performances; highlights are the Meistertrunk, the historical Shepherd’s Dance, a torch parade of participants and fireworks. To learn more, go to Imperial Days.

Day of the Open Monument
Once a year visitors can enter sites that are normally not open to the public; Germany-wide communities host the “Tag des offenen Denkmals” as part of the European Heritage Days on the second Sunday in September every year. Ansbach lets people get a glimpse of the inside of Herrieden Tor, the church towers of St. Ludwig and St. Johannis or the Synagogue, just to mention a few.  This year the event takes place Sept. 9; to learn more, visit https://www.tag-des-offenen-denkmals.de/

German School Break
Several “Bundesländer” (German states) and some countries north of Germany are already on summer break, and many people are heading south in cars, buses, motor homes and trailers towards their vacation destinations. This often jams up the major thoroughfares, a situation which is amplified by seemingly endless construction projects. The summer break in Bavaria ends September 10; the children in Baden-Württemberg, our neighbor state, 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 traffic information sites like www.bayerninfo.de  (in English), www.adac.de/reise_freizeit/verkehr , www.verkehrsinfo.de  or www.verkehrsinformation.de

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 announcements on hiking days all over Germany, visit DVV Wandern.

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.