Was ist los in Franken? Jan. 29, 2016

The long Fasching weekend starts on Thursday with Altweiberfasnacht. (Photo courtesy of Schwabanesen)

ANSBACH, Germany (Jan. 29, 2016) — “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout Lower, Upper and Middle Franconia.

Scottish Festival in Fürth
Experience the Scottish way of life at the Schottenfest in the Grüne Halle Fürth (Krautheimer Straße 11) on Saturday, Jan. 30, starting at 4 p.m. The program features Highland Dancing, bag pipes, a Scottish Whisky lounge, a fashion show, lamb roast, Haeggis, fish and chips, and much more. To learn more, visit Grüne Halle

Toon Walk in Nürnberg
Larger than life comic personas like Bugs Bunny or Homer Simpson are parading through downtown Nürnberg on Jan. 31, celebrating the International Toy Fair that is taking place simultaneously at the Messezentrum Nürnberg. The Toon Walk starts at Pfannenschmiedsgasse (near Lorenzkirche) at 11 a.m. with a show program, games, face painting and more going on all day until 5 p.m. To learn more, go to Toon Walk Nuernberg

Kneipenjagd in Rothenburg
Rothenburg’s annual Kneipenjagd (pub crawl) takes place in several pubs and restaurants around the city on Jan. 30, starting at 8 p.m. Visitors buy one ticket for 12 euros and have access to all locations. To learn more, visit Kammerevents

Fasching Parade in Wolframs-Eschenbach
The annual Fasching parade in Wolframs-Eschenbach on Jan. 31 is a carnival highlight of the region; the parade starts at 2 p.m. at the Sportzentrum on Steingrubenweg and moves on through the old town. Fasching parties take place afterwards at the Gasthaus Heubusch and Pizzeria Stefan. To learn more, go to Wolframs-Eschenbach

Kinderfasching in Nürnberg
A Kinderfasching, a carnival party with music and games for kids, takes place in Nürnberg at the Sportgaststätte SV Nürnberg Reichelsdorf (Schlößleinsgasse 9, 90453 Nürnberg) on Jan. 31 at 2:30 p.m. Admission is 3 euros, to learn more, visit Kinderfasching Nürnberg

Chinesenfasching in Dietfurt
The traditional Chinese Fasching in Dietfurt is a popular event in the region. It always takes place on “nonsense Thursday,” which falls on Feb. 4 this year. The town criers, called “Maschkaras,” wake up the town at 2 a.m. with lots of noise. The party downtown on the stage in front of the Rathaus (city hall) starts at 1 p.m.; at exactly 1:61 p.m. the parade begins to move from Industriestrasse through town towards the town center, where the annual proclamation of the emperor is held. For more details check out Chinesenfasching Dietfurt or Chinesenfasching

Lichtmess Markets
Lichtmess (Candlemass) markets are scheduled for Feb. 6 in Heilsbronn and on Sunday, Feb. 7, in Neustadt a.d. Aisch, Gunzenhausen, Colmberg and Weissenburg.

Open House at the Exotic Animal Resort in Ansbach
The mini zoo for rescued tigers and other exotic animals in Ansbach-Wallersdorf is hosting their monthly open house on Sunday, Feb. 7 from 1 to 5 p.m. Guided tours take place every full hour, tiger feeding time is 5 p.m. in the tiger house. Visitors will be well taken care of with warm beverages, bratwurst and waffle; also for sale will be their calendar for 2016. Admission is free, but donations are always welcome. To learn more, visit Raubtier-und Exotenasyl – Ansbach Wallersdorf

Nürnberg Fasching Parade
The Nürnberg Fasching parade, the oldest of its kind in the world, leads 49 decorated wagons and more than 3000 participants through the city on Sunday, Feb. 7, beginning at 1 p.m. The route takes the parade from Am Stadtpark to Pirckheimerstrasse, Bayreuther Strasse, Rathenauplatz, Laufer Tor, Innere Laufer Gasse, Theresienplatz, Obstmarkt, Museumsbrücke, Königstrasse, Kaiserstrasse, Josephsplatz and finally Vordere Ledergasse. The best strategy to watch the parade is to pick a spot along the route and wait for the fun to come to you. For more details, go to Fastnachtszug Nuernberg

Fasching Parade in Mitteleschenbach
Considered the largest of its kind in West Middle Franconia, a Fasching parade takes place on Sunday, Feb. 7 in Mitteleschenbach, starting at 2 p.m. Many groups with decorated wagons, marching groups and bands are expected in this traditional event. To learn more, go to Die Moenchswaldfuechse

Fasching Parade in Ornbau
A traditional Fasching parade takes place in Ornbau on Feb. 7, starting at 1:30 p.m. at “Am Kalkofen” and moving through town to the Stadthalle. More than 30 decorated wagons and music groups are participating in the event.

Kinderfasching and Parade in Ansbach
Ansbach’s youth participates in a parade on Rosenmontag, Feb. 8, through the old part of town. Children in costumes who would like to tag along assemble at 2:15 p.m. at the Martin-Luther-Platz. A percussion group leads the kids through town, ending up at the Onoldiasaal (Nuernberger Str. 32) where a party with music, clowns, magicians, face painting, games and much more takes place (ending at 6 p.m.). To learn more, visit Kinderfasching Ansbach

Rock Oldie Fasching at Grüne Halle in Fürth
For a fun “Rock Oldie” Fasching party check out the Grüne Halle in Fürth (Krautheimer Strasse 11) on Feb. 8, starting at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) A cover band will play music from the 60s, 70s and 80s; a large dance floor provides plenty of room to move and groove. For details and ticket information go to Gruene Halle

Fasching at the Zoo
The Nürnberg Tiergarten celebrates Fasching on Feb. 8 and 9 during normal opening times. Every child dressed as a zoo animal enters for free. Children under 14 years must be accompanied by an adult. To learn more, go to Tiergarten Nuernberg

Fasching in Fun Park Zirndorf
The Playmobil Fun Park in Zirndorf is hosting Fasching fun on Feb. 8 and 9. To learn more, go to Fasching Funpark

Fastnacht Jahrmarkt in Ansbach
A Fastnacht market is hosted downtown Ansbach with many vendors on Feb. 8 through 11; opening hours are 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. (closes at 4 p.m. on last day).

Kinderfasching in Nürnberg
A Kinderfasching, a carnival party with music and games for kids, takes place in Nürnberg at the Genossenschaftssaalbau Bauernfeind (Matthäus-Herrman-Platz 2, 90469 Nürnberg) on Feb. 9 at 2:30 p.m. Admission is 3 euros, to learn more, visit Kinderfasching Nuernberg

Kinderfasching in Tucherland
A Kinder party takes place at Tucherland (Marienbergstr. 102) on Feb. 9 at 3 p.m. To learn more, visit Tucherland

Kinderfasching – Gunzenhausen
Gunzenhausen’s Kinderfasching party takes place on Feb. 9 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Stadthalle (Isle-Platz 1). Entertainment includes games, face painting, dancing and “best costume contest.” To learn more, call 09831/508109

Fasching, Fastnacht & Karneval
The Fasching season, also known as the “fifth season” in Germany, has a long tradition in Europe; it originates in the preparation for the six-week fasting time during lent, which ends on Easter. Fasching, Fastnacht, or Karneval is a time when Germans loosen up a little, dress up in funny costumes and party. Karneval is especially popular in the Rhine region; cities like Cologne, Mainz or Düsseldorf more or less shut down to party during the high season. The date of the long Fasching weekend varies, depending on the church calendar; while the official start of the season is always on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11:11 a.m., the revelers stay mostly dormant during the Advent and Christmas season until the actual high Fasenacht season in the following spring. In the time between New Year’s and the high Fasching season many towns and villages host balls, parties and parades. Party goers typically dress up as a character, similar to Halloween. German police are cruising the streets more frequently at night to catch those who drink and drive.
For children, many communities host parties called “Kinderfasching,” usually taking place in a community center or gym. These events involve dress-up for the kids, a lot of loud music and dancing, games, face painting and food. They are quite popular with the kids, while the parents go along as chaperones (ear plugs recommended!).
The high season starts with Altweiberfasnacht, or crazy Thursday (Feb. 4), when traditionally in many towns the women take over the city’s courthouse and cut off the tie of any man who dares to wear one. After attending parties all weekend long, people flock to the large cities like Cologne or Mainz to watch the Rosenmontag (“Rose Monday”) parades (Feb. 8), or stay local and enjoy smaller parades, often with folklore background.
Faschingsdienstag (Feb. 9) – Shrove Tuesday – offers one last chance to party hard and then “bury” the carnival at midnight until following year. Aschermittwoch (Ash Wednesday) marks the beginning of Fastenzeit (“fasting time“- lent); the weeks before Easter are often used as a time for reflection and renunciation of certain personal vices (like smoking, alcohol or candy).

Terracotta Soldiers in Nürnberg
The exhibition “The Terracotta Army and the Legacy of the Eternal Emperor” can currently be seen in Nürnberg at the former AEG factory grounds in Muggenhofer Straße 135. The exhibition is open until March 3, Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last entry at 5 p.m.). To learn more, visit http://terrakottaarmee.de/

Sleep-over at the Nürnberg Zoo
Children between 8 and 12 years can roll out their sleeping bag in front of the panorama windows and watch dolphins, manatees and sea lions as they go to sleep. The night at the zoo (including food) costs 70 euros; it starts at 3:30 p.m. and ends at 10 a.m. the next morning. To learn more, go to Tiergarten overnight