Was ist los in Franken? Aug. 28, 2015

The Rothenburg Imperial Days attract thousands of visitors every year. (Photo: Rothenburg Tourismus Service)

ANSBACH, Germany (Aug. 28, 2015) — “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout Lower, Upper and Middle Franconia.

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

Museum Fest in Fladungen
The historical outdoor museum “Fränkisches Freilandmuseum Fladungen“ is hosting a museum fest celebrating their 25th anniversary on Aug. 29 and 30. Visitors can observe traditional crafts, children can help pick potatoes, wash laundry the old-fashioned way (by hand) or attend a historical school lesson; lots of regional vendors are selling products from the Rhön region. Visitors who turn 25 this year (born in 1990) get a 50% discount on admission; all tickets are good for Saturday and Sunday. To learn more about the museum and the event, visit http://freilandmuseum-fladungen.de

Hops Garden Fest
The city of Spalt, a traditional hops growing town, is celebrating the “Hopfengartenfest” on Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the museum’s garden behind the Stadtbrauerei (Brauereigasse 3). The hops pickers are entering the fest grounds with a parade at 2 p.m. with more activities following; admission is free. To learn more, visit www.landratsamt-roth.de

Wine Fest in Nürnberg
A wine fest on Aufsessplatz in Nürnberg on Sept. 3 through 6 offers culinary specialties and local wines. The stores in Nürnberg’s south will be open to shoppers on Sunday, Sept. 6 from 1 to 6 p.m.

Imperial City Days in Rothenburg
During the years of 1274 through 1802, Rothenburg was granted the right to be a Free Imperial City, which meant that Rothenburg could govern itself, make its own currency, and develop its own system of measurement. As the city grew and developed with its economic and political power, it became one of the largest, most thriving cities in the Old Empire with over 6000 inhabitants.
September 4 through 6, Rothenburg celebrates those by-gone days with the Imperial City Festival. Hundreds of Rothenburgers gather into different historical groups representing the time period of an Imperial City, and allowing the visitors to go on a journey back in time.
The festival is opened by a torchlight procession of historical groups on Friday evening, followed by a firework display with music on the Rothenburg Market Square. On Saturday and Sunday, the knights camp in front of the city wall, the town pipers, the pike men, Swedish troops, medieval musicians and Franciscan monks populate the streets.  Some of the highlights include the theater play “Der Meistertrunk” or the historic shepherd´s dance on the market square. On Saturday evening, large fireworks will illuminate the town again. For further information about the town and this event, contact the Rothenburg Tourismus Service (Marktplatz 2, 91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber) at 09861 – 404-800 or visit www.tourismus.rothenburg.de.

Pumpkin Festival in Ludwigsburg
The annual pumpkin festival on Ludwigsburg’s castle grounds (Marbacher Strasse 10, 71640 Ludwigsburg, Germany) is open Sept. 4 until November 8. 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/events/415907721882092/#!/kuerbisausstellung

Bardentreffen Ansbach
Ansbach’s downtown turns into a singer-songwriter location on the weekend of Sept. 5 and 6. Street musicians start off at 11 a.m. in different locations; the Reitbahn opens for concerts at 3 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. To learn more, visit www.speckdrumm.de

Goat Day in Bad Windsheim
The outdoor museum in Bad Windsheim is hosting a day all about goats on Sept. 6; activities include an awards ceremony and a petting zoo for kids. To learn more, visit www.freilandmuseum.de

Burggrabenfest zu Nürnberg
The Burggrabenfest in Nürnberg is a medieval fest for the whole family, taking place on Sept. 11 to 13 in the city moat. Show fights, camp life and fire spectacles bring back life in the middle ages. Young knights can spend their energy on a knight’s playground or 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

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/Leinburg%2029.%20u.%2030.08.2015.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/Kitzingen%2005%20u.%2006.09.2015_ohne%20Werbung.pdf