Was ist los in Franken? May 4, 2018

Fest time in Bad Windsheim’s historic outdoor museum (Photo: Fränkisches Freilandmuseum)

ANSBACH, Germany (May 4, 2018) – “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout the Franconian region.

Blaue Nacht in Nürnberg
The “Blaue Nacht” (Blue Night) in Nürnberg takes place Saturday, May 5, starting at 7 p.m. It is a night filled with special events, artistic displays and, of course, blue lights everywhere. For a detailed program and more information, check http://www.blauenacht.nuernberg.de/English.

Ansbach spring fest
The Ansbach spring fest starts May 4 with the official tapping of the first keg by the lord mayor at 6:30 p.m. at the Festplatz (Nürnberger Strasse). Music, entertainment and rides will be offered daily until May 10; for detailed information go to Ansbach Fest.

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 5 through 13.  Sunday the traditional Kirchweih tree will be put up at 1:30 p.m. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1919899368321831/

Ansbach City Lauf – Running Fun in Ansbach
The annual Ansbach City-Lauf, a race for everybody with distances of 6.5 k, 10 k or half marathon, as well as different age groups, takes place downtown Ansbach Sunday, May 6. Start and finishing point is the Brücken-Center mall, but race tracks are spread out. Traffic will be rerouted for a large part of the day to accommodate the runners. To learn more, visit www.ansbacher-citylauf.de

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, May 6 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/Raubtier-und-Exotenasyl-AnsbachWallersdorf-eV-281469090873

Brückentag – Word of the Month
In spring time, a few German holidays fall on a Thursday. Germans love to take a Brückentag – a bridge day – to prolong the weekend attached to it and take off several days in a row. They use those days for short trips, take care of unfinished business or do a lot of shopping.

German Holiday May 10 – Vatertag
May 10 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” (‘bridge day’) and enjoy an extended weekend.

Spargel season is here
The asparagus season in the area is about to begin, especially if the weather continues to be mild. In Franconia alone about 250 asparagus farmers harvest the “white gold” as it is also called. The white asparagus, and later in the month the green version, will be available soon in many supermarkets, vending booths along the road or straight from your local farmer. The season traditionally ends on 24 June, St. Johannis Day. For a collection of recipes (in German), visit http://www.spargel-franken.de/rezepte.php

“Sommer in der City” – Beach feeling in Nürnberg
The Nürnberg city beach is open again on Insel Schütt (near Cinecitta movie theater). Enjoy folding beach chairs, cocktails and music, palm trees and a pool bar from 1 to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and 3 to 10 p.m. during the week, all the way to July 22. To learn more, go to www.sommer-in-der-city.com

Wochenmarkt Ansbach
The Wochenmarkt Ansbach is a typical German market featuring fresh goods like vegetables, flowers, meats, home-made noodles or ice cream, fresh-baked bread, cheeses and other dairy products. The vendors are often farmers from the area, who sell their own products. They set up their carts and stands on Martin-Luther-Platz twice a week, Wednesday and Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (except German holidays).

Bergkirchweih in Erlangen
Known to anybody in and around Erlangen as “Der Berg,” the Bergkirchweih attracts about a million visitors each year.  The site of the fest is located by the storage cellars of the old beer breweries; tables and benches are sitting in the shade of large chestnut trees, while rides keep the visitors busy. It is ongoing May 17 through 28 along Bergstrasse. Public transportation is recommend, as parking nearby is almost impossible. To learn more, visit https://www.berch.info/englisch.html

German holiday  May 21
Monday, May 21, is a German holiday, Pfingstmontag (Pentecost or Whit Monday). As usual, stores and businesses off-post are closed and “quiet laws” apply (no loud noise, lawn-mowing etc.).

Pfingstferien – School break in Bavaria
German children are going on school break from May 19 to June 3; this is a popular vacation time and many travelers can be expected to flood the airports and Autobahns. Heavy car traveling days are expected especially for the weekends, and May 31 and June 1, as Thursday is a German holiday and people use the long weekend for quick trips.

Muna Museum Expo
The Museum for Military History in Oberdachstetten, also called Muna Museum, hosts its annual expo and open house June 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; the museum volunteers will provide food from a German army kitchen and beverages, coffee and cake for sale, while visitors explore the many historical exhibits spanning several decades. The museum is located on Oberdachstetten Training Area, on Franken Kaserne exit along B13 near Marktbergel; admission fee for 15 years and older is 6 euros, children enter free of charge. To learn more, visit www.munamuseum.de

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.