Was ist los in Franken? Sept. 7, 2018

Martin-Luther-Platz in Ansbach (Photo: Jim Albright)

ANSBACH, Germany (Sept. 7, 2018) – “Was ist los in Franken?” details off-post community events and activities occurring throughout the Franconian region.


French market in Ansbach
Ansbach is celebrating 50 years of partnership with sister city Anglet in France. The French are bringing their little market back with home-grown delicacies and other typical regional goods Sept. 6 through 8. The market is  located on Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Platz, the booths are open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. To learn more, visit Französischer Markt


Herbstvolksfest – Nürnberg
The Nürnberg Fall Fest is one of the largest and nicest fests in Bavaria; visitors will find plenty of fun rides, beer tents and food stands, as well as an entertainment program for everybody. The fest, ongoing until  Sept. 9, is located on the Dutzendteich (Bayernstrasse). Details are available at www.volksfest-nuernberg.de.


Pumpkin Festival in Ludwigsburg
The annual pumpkin festival on Ludwigsburg’s castle grounds (Marbacher Strasse 10, 71640 Ludwigsburg, Germany) is open until Nov. 4. 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/kuerbisausstellung


“Onion Stomper“ Fest in Bamberg
The annual Zwiebeltreterfest on the Böhmerwiese (Heiliggrabstraße 57) takes place Sept. 6 through 9; music and culinary specialties entertain the adults, while the kids can spend time with arts and crafts or enjoy the bouncy castle. In case of inclement weather the fest is moved to a tent. Admission is free; to learn more go to www.zwiebeltreterfest.de .


Flea Market in Nürnberg
Germany’s largest flea market, the Trempelmarkt in Nürnberg takes place twice a year; this fall it will take place on Sept. 7 and 8; more than 4000 vendors are offering their junk and treasures on and around the Hauptmarkt on Friday afternoon and all day Saturday. Taking public transportation is recommended, since parking will be very limited. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/319490548583772/ or  go to http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/marktamt/trempel.html


Burggrabenfest zu Nürnberg
The Burggrabenfest in Nürnberg is a medieval fest for the whole family, taking place Sept. 7 through 9 in the city moat below the castle (Hallertor). Show fights, medieval camp life and fire spectacles bring the middle ages back to life. Young knights can spend their energy on a knight’s playground, try their talent with balancing on a rope or compete with bow and arrow.

Opening hours are Friday 2 – 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free under three years of age, 3 euros at age 4 – 12 and 6 euros for 13 years and above; family tickets for two adults and two children are 6 euros. For more information go to www.burggrabenfest.de.


Reichsstadt-Festtage – Rothenburg
The Reichsstadt-Festtage or Imperial Days in Rothenburg ob der Tauber Sept. 7 through 9 celebrate the history of the old Imperial city. Every century is represented with its unique clothing and stories. The festival includes many different events and performances; highlights are the Meistertrunk, the historical Shepherd’s Dance, a torch parade of participants and fireworks. To learn more, go to Imperial Days.


Day of the Open Monument
Once a year visitors can enter sites that are normally not open to the public; Germany-wide communities host the “Tag des offenen Denkmals” as part of the European Heritage Days on the second Sunday in September every year. Ansbach lets people get a glimpse of the inside of Herrieden Tor, the church towers of St. Ludwig and St. Johannis or the Synagogue, just to mention a few.  This year the event takes place Sept. 9; to learn more, visit https://www.tag-des-offenen-denkmals.de/


German School Break
Several “Bundesländer” (German states) and some countries north of Germany are already on summer break, and many people are heading south in cars, buses, motor homes and trailers towards their vacation destinations. This often jams up the major thoroughfares, a situation which is amplified by seemingly endless construction projects. The summer break in Bavaria ends September 10; the children in Baden-Württemberg, our neighbor state, finish two days earlier. Expect heavy traffic and long traffic jams, especially on the Autobahns going south and coming back during that time. For current traffic updates visit traffic information sites like www.bayerninfo.de  (in English), www.adac.de/reise_freizeit/verkehr , www.verkehrsinfo.de  or www.verkehrsinformation.de


Altstadtfest – Nürnberg
The traditional Altstadtfest downtown Nürnberg, scheduled for Sept. 12 through 24, 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.


Fall Market in Nürnberg
The Nürnberg “Herbstmarkt” takes place on the main market place (Hauptmarkt) downtown Sept. 13 -30; vendors sell household goods, pottery, clothes and arts and crafts. Opening hours are daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. To learn more, visit https://www.nuernberg.de/internet/marktamt/herbstmarkt.html


Kirchweih Herrieden
The traditional Herrieder Kirchweih takes place on the Festplatz, just outside the city gate, the Storchenturm, along the Altmühl River, Sept. 14 through 17. The opening ceremony starts with a concert on Marktplatz on Friday at 6:45 p.m., followed by the tapping of the first keg by the mayor at 7:15 p.m. inside the fest tent. Fest rides and vending booths complete the Kirchweih experience.


Square dance in Lichtenau
The Lichtenau Square Dance Club, called the Tic Tac Toers, is hosting an open house for all interested in square dancing. They meet in the Alte Turnhalle Lichtenau (near the bridge) Friday, Sept. 14 & 21 from 8 to 10 p.m. To find out more, visit their website at www.tictactoers-scd.de or email president@tictactoers.de


Grafflmarkt – Fürth
The Grafflmarkt in Fürth, a large flea market downtown, takes place on Sept.14 and 15 between Gustavstrasse, Grüner Markt and Paisleyplatz. Opening times are Friday 4 – 10 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.


Herbstfest at Freilandmuseum Bad Windsheim
The Bad Windsheim Freilandmuseum on Eisweiherweg 1 is hosting a fall fest Sept. 15 and 16; visitors can experience old crafts and skills and watch the processing of fruit and vegetables into juice, slaw, oil flour and much more. For details go to www.freilandmuseum.de or https://www.facebook.com/events/180968835244763


Grüne Nacht in Ansbach
Enjoy a night of culture, art and food downtown Ansbach, as everything is dipped into green lights Sept. 15 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Green blinking lights, available for € 3, serve as admission tickets; visitors are asked to wear green clothing, if possible. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/events/1362139680495874/


Beer & Brats in Ansbach
Beer and bratwurst are the staples at an Ansbach event called Bier & Brodworschd downtown Sept. 21 through 23. Franconian beer specialties are paired with Ansbach Bratwurst in a temporary beer garden in front of Gumbertus church from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1888863124759596/


Guided English tour of Ansbach
The Ansbach tourist office is offering a guided tour in English. The very knowledgeable tour guide will take participants around town and talk about more than 1250 years of history, including Baroque style facades and hidden Renaissance inner court yards, the former Markgrave´s Royal Chapel, a crypt with its 25 sarcophaguses and the Baroque Synagogue. The tour starts at the horse sculpture Anscavallo at Schlossplatz (across from the Residenz castle) Sept. 22 at 5 p.m. The 90-minute tour costs 6 euros per person, payable on site. To learn more, contact the Ansbach Tourist Office at 0981-51-326 or akut@ansbach.de.


Oktoberfest in Munich
The Oktoberfest in Munich – 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 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 Munich’s Theresienwiese on Sept. 22 to Oct. 7. 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.
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, using the subway (U-Bahn) to get there.

Security concept: The security concept of the Oktoberfest is based on decades of experience and constantly reviewed. There will be a “security fence” along open stretches as well as a ban of back packs and larger bags; smaller bags are subject to search. Strollers are only allowed on weekdays until 6 p.m.; completely forbidden are items like glass bottles, gas spray cans or knives. On the busier days, like the weekends, visitors are advised to refrain from bringing small children.
For more information about the Oktoberfest go to www.oktoberfest.de/en


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 find announcements on hiking days all over Germany, visit DVV Wandern.




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.

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