Was ist los in Franken? July 1, 2016

ANSBACH, Germany (July 1, 2016) – “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout Middle, Lower and Upper Franconia.

Rococo Festival in Ansbach
The annual Rococo Festival features volunteer actors and participants in handmade historical costumes dancing, parading and performing from July 1 through 5 at the Orangerie and other locations downtown Ansbach. Scheduled are day and night time events, including a “summer masked ball” with dancing, music and fireworks on Friday, July 1 at 9:30 p.m. and a “royal wedding” on Saturday, July 2 at 9:30 p.m. On Sunday, July 3, the palace gardens of the Orangerie will be site of a great family event from 2 – 6 p.m.; watch different shows, children’s theater, jugglers and magicians or take a horse carriage ride and much more at the wonderful scenery of the Ansbach Palace Garden. Tickets can be purchased at the Tourist Office at Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Platz downtown Ansbach.  For more information contact the Tourist Office at 0981/ 51-243 or email akut@ansbach.de; details are also available at Rokoko Festival Ansbach

Kiliani Fest Bad Windsheim

Altstadtfest Bad Windsheim
The annual Bad Windsheim Kiliani Altstadtfest takes place downtown on July 1 – 3; entertainment as well as good and beverages are waiting for the visitors. To learn more, email tourismus@bad-windsheim.de

Bürgerfest in Gunzenhausen
Gunzenhausen is hosting the annual Bürgerfest (citizens’ fest) July 1 through 3 with live music and entertainment. Opening hours are 7 – 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. – midnight Saturday and 9:30 a.m. – 10 p.m. on Sunday. To learn more, visit Bürgerfest

Old Timers meet in Dinkelsbühl
Old timer cars and their owners get together in Dinkelsbühl on Sunday, July 3 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. They start with a ride through the country and return to Dinskelbühl afterwards. To learn more about the event, visit Oldtimer

Cherry Farm Fest at Brombachsee
A cherry fest takes place in Spalt at Brombachsee on July 3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Local cherry farmers offer the fruit and other cherry products in many delicious varities. To learn more, visit Kirschfest

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, July 3 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 Raubtier- und Exotenasyl Ansbach

Weinfest in Nürnberg
The traditional Nürnberger Weinfest takes place on Jakobsplatz July 7 through 17; a different live band entertains the visitors every day. To learn more about the event, visit Nuernberg Weinfest

Kirchweih Ansbach
The traditional Ansbach Kirchweih fest takes place at the Festplatz (Nürnberger Strasse) July 7 through 13; the fest will be opened on the first night with the tapping of the first keg at 7 p.m.

International Samba Festival in Coburg
The city of Coburg turns into a Samba town during the popular Samba festival on July 8 through 10; more than 150,000 visitors enjoy more than 30 groups performing Latin American music, dancing and artistics during the three-day festival, with a parade on Sunday at 2 p.m. as one of the major highlights. For more details and ticket information, visit Samba Festival

Altstadtfest – Herrieden
The Altstadtfest (old town fest) on July 16 and 17 in Herrieden is a traditional fest with tables and benches set up all through town between the booths selling local delicacies and the entertainment section with live music. Sunday is also open store Sunday with shops open 1 – 5 p.m. Altstadtfest

Ambassadors of Music in Rothenburg
The “Sound of America” performance is a special musical event in Rothenburg: once a year the best music students from different US states show off their talents in a summer tour of Europe, stopping off at Rothenburg’s Market Square during their trip.
This year’s tour brings the following state representatives there:
July 2: Missouri; July 5: Colorado; July 8: Illinois; July 9: Texas Lone Star; July 11: Wisconsin; July 14: Kentucky; July 15: West Vancouver Youth Band; July 17: Iowa; July 20: Minnesota; July 23: Washinton; July 26: New England/Nevada; July 29: Virginia; Aug. 1: California. To learn more about the concert series, visit Rothenburg or call the Rothenburg Tourist Office at 09861-404 800

State Garden Show in Bayreuth
Every year the state of Bavaria hosts a garden show in a different location; landscapes are transformed into beautiful garden scenes, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. This year the “Landesgartenschau is located in Bayreuth, capital of Upper Franconia. The show is open daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. until October 9 along the Roter Main river (Friedrich-Ebert-Straße/Äußere Badstraße). Day tickets are available for 16 euros for adults, an annual pass is 100 euros; children 7-17 years old pay 3 euros per day or 25 for the annual pass. Visitors arriving by train at the Bayreuth Bahnhof can use a free shuttle to the location and will receive a 2 euro discount on their (adult’s) ticket by showing the train pass. To learn more about the garden show, visit Landesgartenschau 2016.

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.

Upcoming Volksmarch events in Franconia and the region:

* July 2 and 3 in Spalt: Distances are 5, 10 and 15 kilometers. The event starts at Feuerwehrhaus (Industriestraße 16, 91174 Spalt) at 7 a.m. and ends at noon on both days.  To learn more, visit Volksmarch Spalt

 * July 9 and 10 in Pottenstein (Fränkische Schweiz): Distances are  5, 10 and 20 kilometers. Starting times are 6 a.m. to noon on both days, start location is Graf-Botho-Schule, Bayreuther Berg 7, 91278 Pottenstein. To learn more, visit Volksmarch Pottenstein