Was ist los in Franken? May 19, 2017

ANSBACH, Germany (May 19, 2017) – “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout the Franconian region.

Wine fest in Erlangen
The Schlossplatz in Erlangen is site of an annual wine fest until May 21; visitors can sample Franconian wines and enjoy live entertainment. Learn more at Weinfest

Medieval Festival in Hilpoltstein
A medieval fest takes place in the Hilpoltstein castle (Maria-Dorothea-Straße 8) May 19 through 21. The three day fest features knights, bards, fire artists, jugglers, story tellers and medieval music. Visitors can experience knight tournaments, sword fights, medieval camps and markets. The fest is open Friday from 6 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn more, visit Mittelalterfest

Medieval Deocar market in Herrieden
Herrieden is celebrating a medieval market May 20 and 21 downtown with vendors, a magician, a ‘medicus,’ fire show and music. The market opens Saturday at 11 a.m. until midnight; Sunday opening hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission price is 3 euros for adults and 1 euro for youngsters. To learn more, visit Deocar Markt

Flea market in Gunzenhausen
The town of Gunzenhausen is hosting a flea market Sunday, May 21, at the Festplatz (Zum Schießwasen) from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

German Holiday – Vatertag
May 25 marks a German holiday, Christi Himmelfahrt or Christ’s Ascension Day. As always, stores and businesses will remain closed. It is also the German Father’s Day, often celebrated with traditional outings of groups of men hiking the country side while pulling a hand-cart loaded with cold beverages. Germans like to take off the following Friday as a “Brückentag” (bridging day) and enjoy an extended weekend.

Historical fun fair at open air museum Bad Windsheim (Photo: Fraenkisches Freilandmuseum Bad Windsheim)

Historical Fun Fair at Bad Windsheim museum
A historical fair with a flee circus, a fortune teller, a fakir and a historical carousel takes place at the Fränkische Freilandmuseum in Bad Windsheim May 25 through 28.  Sunday the traditional Kirchweih tree will be put up at 1:30 p.m. To learn more, visit Jahrmarkt.

Castle garden days in Dennenlohe
The annual garden days of Schloss Dennenlohe (Schlosspark Dennenlohe, Dennenlohe 1, 91743 Unterschwaningen) take place May 25 through 28. The popular garden show features about 100 vendors with the latest gardening trands, plants and tools. To learn more, visit Gartentage.

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 learn more about hiking in Germany, visit DVV Wandern.

Wandertag in Wiebelsheim (Bad Windsheim)
Volksmarch hiking days with distances of 6 and 12 kilometers take place in Wiebelsheim May 20 and 21. Start Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. to noon at Halle Kraus (Wiebelsheim, 91438 Bad Windsheim/Wiebelsheim). To learn more, visit  Wandertag Wiebelsheim