Was ist los in Franken? Oct. 21, 2016

Backofen at Freilandmuseum Bad Windsheim

ANSBACH, Germany (Oct. 21, 2016) – “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout Middle, Lower and Upper Franconia.

Mercato dei Sapori in Nürnberg
A “market of flavors” – Mercato dei Sapori – takes place downtown Nürnberg at the Fleischbrücke (near Hauptmarkt) until Oct. 22, offering Italian food and wine specialties.

Backofenfest – Freilandmuseum Bad Windsheim
The annual “Baker’s Oven Fest” on Oct. 23 at the outdoor museum in Bad Windsheim is for fans of all things baked, like fresh bread, “Zwiebelkuchen,” and sweet baking goods; learn to build an oven or find out what belongs in bread dough.  Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; to learn more, visit Backofenfest.

Consumenta Nürnberg
The Consumenta, a large consumer’s fair, takes place at the Nürnberg Messezentrum Oct. 23 through Nov. 1; visitors can find lots of information about technology, real estate, cooking and baking, pets, horses, creative hobbies, new inventions, and much more. Opening hours are daily 9:30 a.m. through 6 p.m. To learn more, visit Consumenta.

Fall Fair in Rothenburg
A “Herbstmesse” (fall fair) with a market and midway takes place on Schrannenplatz Oct. 29 through Nov. 6; Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 (German holiday) are open shop days. To learn more, visit www.rothenburg.de or www.tourismus.rothenburg.de.

Halloween at Schloss Thurn
The fun park Schloss Thurn in Heroldsbach near Forchheim is hosting special Halloween events Oct. 21 and 22, as well as Oct. 29 – 31. During the day (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) the event is family and kid friendly, at 6:30 to 11 p.m. it turns into “scary Halloween.” To learn more, visit Schloss Thurn.

All Saints Day marks holiday in Bavaria
Allerheiligen (All Saints Day) is a Christian day to remember all saints, martyrs and deceased. Following “All Hallows’ Eve” (better known as Halloween), it is observed on November 1 every year in Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz and Saarland, as well as in Austria and Italy.

Rothenburger Lichterlauf
The Rothenburger Lichterlauf, a race in and around the torch-lit city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, takes place on Nov 5, starting with a Bambini race at 4:30 p.m.; the hobby runners start at 5:30 p.m. and the main race begins at 6:45 p.m. Start and finish are at the Marktplatz in Rothenburg, the awards ceremony takes place at 8 p.m. For more information check Lichterlauf.

Kneipenjagd Ansbach
Local pubs and restaurants are hosting a “Kneipenjagd” (pub crawl) in Ansbach Nov. 5; 19 bands play live in different locations in town. One ticket buys admission for all locations and live bands all night long; tickets bought in advance (Brückencenter or participating pubs) cost 11 euros, others are 13 euros.  For details on participating locations and program, go to Kneipenjagd Ansbach.

Martini-Jahrmarkt – Ansbach
Ansbach hosts a Martini market downtown on Nov. 6 through 10; Nov. 6 is also open shop Sunday from 1 – 6 p.m. The market is open daily during the week 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday (closes at 4 p.m. on last day).

Open Shop Sunday and Martini Parade in Ansbach
Ansbach is hosting a special open shop Sunday Nov. 6 from 1 to 6 p.m. that culminates in the annual St. Martin lantern parade of local children. The participants meet up at the main entrance of the Brücken-Center at 5 p.m. and march together towards Martin-Luther-Platz, where the Ansbach Theater will perform the story of St. Martin.

Lights on at Freilandmuseum Bad Windsheim
The Freilandmuseum Bad Windsheim (Eisweiherweg 1) hosts an event taking visitors through the historical development of light sources and use in the country on Nov. 6 from 3 to 5 p.m. To learn more, go to Freilandmuseum.

Martinimarkt – Neustadt a.d. Aisch
The Martini market of Neustadt-Aisch is scheduled for Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; stores will be open from 12:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Martinimarkt – Bad Windsheim
The Bad Windsheim Martini market takes place on Nov. 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; shops are also open from 1 – 5 p.m.

Martini Market and Open Shop Sunday in Feuchtwangen
Feuchtwangen is hosting a market and open shop Sunday Nov. 6 in the downtown area from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Martin’s Day – A German tradition
Martinstag or Martini on Nov. 11 commemorates St. Martin (ca. 317-397), Bishop of Tours, one of the most revered European saints. The best-known legend connected with Saint Martin is the dividing of the cloak; Martin, then a soldier in the Roman army, tore his cloak in two pieces to share it with a freezing beggar at Amiens. Later in life he became a bishop. Although Martinstag is a Catholic observance, German Protestants also consider November 11 a special day, the christening day of the Protestant reformer Martin Luther (1483-1546). The protestant “Pelzemärtl” brings Franconian children little gifts.

Many towns and villages organize lantern parades for elementary school kids, complete with a St. Martin on horseback and a beggar. Often a small market is connected to the holiday (not a federal holiday). Very popular is also the traditional goose dinner on Martin’s Day.

For Carnival fans the day also marks the beginning of the Fasching season, starting exactly at 11:11 a.m. on Nov. 11.

Pumpkin Festival in Ludwigsburg
The annual pumpkin festival on Ludwigsburg’s castle grounds (Marbacher Strasse 10, 71640 Ludwigsburg, Germany) is now open until November 6. 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 Pumpkin Festival or Kürbisausstellung.

Second Hand Bazaars for Parents
Parents are cleaning out the closets of their ever-growing offspring and take it to numerous “Kinderbasars” or “Baby-Basars” happening in the area. Look for posters or flyers in your community advertising the bazaars for second hand clothing, toys and equipment; usually they take place on a Saturday afternoon in the local church annex, school or community center.

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.

* Oct. 22 and 23 in Heroldsberg: Hiking day for families (stroller accessible) with distances of 5, 10 and 20 kilometers. Start at Gründlachhalle (Schustergasse 5, 90562 Heroldsberg) at 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday and 7 to 11 a.m. on Sunday. To learn more, visit Volksmarch Heroldsberg or email wanderclub-heroldsberg@nefkom.net.

* Oct. 30 in Heilsbronn: Distances are 5 and 10 kilometers; start at Hohenzollernhalle, (Ketteldorfer Straße 22, 91560 Heilsbronn) at 7 a.m. to noon. To learn more, visit Volksmarch Heilsbronn.

* Nov. 5 in Fürth-Oberführberg: Guided day tour (5 or 10 kilometers); start at 10 a.m. at Gasthaus Waldlust (Rennweg 68, 90768 Fürth-Oberführberg). To learn more, visit Volksmarch Oberführberg.