Was ist los in Franken? Sept. 25, 2015

Medieval Days at outdoor museum Bad Windsheim (Photo; Freilandmuseum Bad Windsheim)

ANSBACH, Germany (Sept. 25, 2015) — “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout Lower, Upper and Middle Franconia.

Kirchweih in Colmberg
The Colmberg Kirchweih fest takes place on Sept. 24 through 28; to learn more, go to www.colmberg.de

Kite Festival in Heuberg
A kite festival takes place on Sept. 26 and 27 in Heuberg near Hilpoltstein; kiting pros are showing off their colorful kites doing acrobatic stunts in the sky, but everybody is invited to bring a kite and participate. Saturday starts off with kite flying at 2 p.m. followed but a night show and fireworks; a family kite event starts at 10 a.m. on Sunday. To learn more, visit http://www.hilpoltstein.de/veranstaltungen/drachenfest-118496-8780418/

Two-city run Merkendorf/Wolframs-Eschenbach
The annual “2 Städtelauf” between Merkendorf and Wolframs-Eschenbach takes place Sept. 26. There will be a 21.1k half marathon, a 10k citizen run, a 6k “hobby” run/walk, a 3k student run and a 300m Bambini run. Late registration is possible on site until one hour before the race. For more details, fees and registration, visit www.merkendorf.de or www.wolframs-eschenbach.de.

Food Truck Round-up in Ansbach
The original Food Truck Round-up with food specialties ranging from classic barbecue to pasta or Mexican food is coming to the Martin-Luther-Platz in Ansbach on Sept. 27 from noon to 7 p.m. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/events/1652957791615125/

Fall Market and Museum Day in Wolframs-Eschenbach
Wolframs-Eschenbach is hosting a fall market and museum day on Sunday, Sept. 27. The market offers household goods and many other useful products. Visitors of the museum can show their admission ticket to vendors and restaurants for a 1 euro discount on their food and beverages. Admission to the event is 2 euros. To learn more, visit www.wolframs-eschenbach.de

Altstadtfest – Nürnberg
The traditional Altstadtfest downtown Nürnberg, going on until Sept. 28, is one of the most popular highlights in the Franconian event calendar. The Hans-Sachs-Platz and Insel Schütt turn into fest grounds with wooden huts that offer local culinary specialties; the entertainment program includes cultural and traditional events, like the Fischerstechen, an event that includes boats on the river and people with long poles pushing each other off these boats. Program details and other information can be found at www.altstadtfest-nue.de.

Tag der deutschen Einheit – German Holiday, October 3
The Day of German Unity (Tag der Deutschen Einheit) on Oct. 3 is a national holiday of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is the national day of Germany, commemorating the anniversary of German reunification in 1990, when the hopes for a united Germany were finally fulfilled after decades of separation. Every year a different city hosts the national celebration; the 25th anniversary is observed in Frankfurt am Main. As usual, all stores and businesses will be closed for the day; many communities celebrate with a local ceremony.

Antiques Market in Bamberg
A market for antiques only takes place in Bamberg at the Maxplatz on Oct. 3 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To learn more, visit www.bamberger-antikmarkt.de

Dixie Music with Conny Wagner in Fürth
Conny Wagner and band are playing Dixie music in the Grüne Halle in Fürth (Krautheimer Str. 11) on Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. To learn more about the event, visit www.gruenehalle.de

Medieval Days in Bad Windsheim
The outdoor museum in Bad Windsheim is hosting “Mittelaltertage” – medieval days – on Oct 3 and 4 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors can watch old crafts and professions being revived and learn how people handled everyday life without the assistance of modern appliances. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/593367320813834/

Michaelis Kirchweih in Fürth
The Michaelis Kirchweih in Fürth on Oct. 3 to 14 is Bavaria’s largest street Kirchweih fest. Special event highlights include a street fun run and the harvest thanksgiving parade on Oct. 10. To learn more about the fest program and other details, visit www.michaeliskirchweih.de

Oktoberfest in München
The Oktoberfest in München — the original Oktoberfest — is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world’s largest fair with more than 6 million people from around the world attending the event every year. It started out as a royal wedding celebration in October 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The fields, where the celebration took place, were named Theresienwiese (“Therese’s Meadow”) in honor of the crown princess.
The Oktoberfest, also known as the “Wies’n,” takes place on München’s Theresienwiese until Oct. 4. The midway is open daily from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (30 minutes longer on the weekends); the beer tents have the same opening hours, but the last beer will be served an hour before closure.
On the busier days, like the weekends, visitors are advised to refrain from bringing small children and strollers. Official family days with reduced prices are Tuesdays from noon to 6 p.m. Since there is no parking anywhere close to the location, visitors are encouraged to come to town by train or take advantage of the park & ride system and leave their vehicle at a public transportation stop outside of the city.
For more information about the Oktoberfest, visit www.oktoberfest.de/en.

Pumpkin Festival in Ludwigsburg
The annual pumpkin festival on Ludwigsburg’s castle grounds (Marbacher Strasse 10, 71640 Ludwigsburg, Germany) is open until November 8. 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 www.kuerbisausstellung-ludwigsburg.de/en or https://www.facebook.com/events/415907721882092/#!/kuerbisausstellung

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 distances varies from 5-, 10-, or 20-kilometer routes to 42-, 50- and event 60-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.

* Sept. 26 and 27: Tiefenbach (near Crailsheim), 5, 10 and 20 km with Wanderfreunde des SV 1948 Tiefenbach e.V., 07951-25077. Start: Sat. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sun: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Turn und Festhalle, Steinbachstr., 74564 Crailsheim-Tiefenbach

* Oct. 10 and 11: Neunkirchen am Brand, 5, 10 and 20 km with Wanderfreunde Neunkirchen, 09126 – 288729 or 0170-8313627. Start: 7 a.m. to noon at Schule, Schellenberger Weg 26, 91077 Neunkirchen am Brand.