Events, Hannover

Whitsun in Germany is a big holiday with a free monday. In Hannover this holiday is one highlight of all our summer festivals. There is Fest der Altstadt - a big party in the Old Town with, music, dancing and a lot of fun.

And there is "Tummelplatz der L?ste", a big festival of gay and lesbian people from Hannover and elsewhere. They dress up specially for this party and you can see a lot of strange people then. Many of my friends are gay and all together we have a lot of fun.

Some years there is also a big Dragon-Boat race on Maschsee and some other minor parties ...

For the actual programme you can have a look on the website mentioned below.

Every year in July we have the biggest Schuetzenfest /Marksmen's Fair of the world in Hannover. Highlight is the imposing parade of the local shooting clubs, music bands and dancing groups. Since the 17th century this parade was held almost every year.

Together with this parade there is a a top-class funfair for 10 days with roller coasters and beer-tents.

There are also traditional ceremonies assossiated with the marksmen, that haven been cultivated by the local people for 475 years. The 475th anniversary has been celebrated in 2004.

World Beat Festival: every year in June. 2006 in early May.

A colorful festival with music from all over the world.

For example 2003:
Mory Kante, Mali
Orishas, Cuba
Mariza, Portugal
Sexteto Mayor, Argentinia
Kroke, Poland
Egschiglen, Outer Mongolia
Bembeya Jazz, Guinea
Jorge Benjor, Brasilia

every year on ascencion day there is a big Jazz event on the Trammplatz, the place in front of the new townhall. It´s a long tradition in Hannover, so every year thousands of people are hear to listen to the music. As this day is also called "father´s day" in Germany, there are a lot of groups of men around, celebrating their day, but as well it is a family day, you see a lot of young families there.
On the photo you can see the mayor of Hannover, Mr Schmalstieg in a blue shirt.

Swinging Hannover is my favourite festival in Hannover. It is always on Ascension Day. On that day there is a very big and famous Jazz-Festival in Hannover. After playing Jazz on Wednesday evening and night, the musicians gather in front of the New Town Hall on Thursday morning and make music.

Jazz on Tramplatz is for free. More than 30000 people come every year to listen to the music, drink a beer and have fun.

Even the local television is showing the Jazz-festival.

From July to August there is a big festival around the Maschsee with lots of music, beergardens and parties.

At the Nordufer you'll find food-stalls and beergardens. At the Löwenbastion on sundays there is Jazz-Music and in other places more music.

Every year in spring and autumn there is a special market in Hannover, where the market sellers gather for a contest, who is loudest praising their goods. Some of the are quite famous. When you want to see them at other time you have to visit the fish-market in Hamburg.
They sell fish, fruits , noodles or cheese.

Since the expo days we have a Finnish christmas market in december, which is very romantic. I don´t like the other christmas markets here very much, they are too commercial these days and sometimes more like a fairground... Not so the Finnish one. There is no music, you can eat a grilled salmon or reindeer stew. Or you have the typical Pirogges or "Lettuja", finnish pan cakes in a tipi! There are some cute little shops where you can get Finnish crafts, reindeer furs and jewellery. And you can some cups of Glögi, the Finnish style hot wine. It´s very delicious and perfect on a hot winter´s day.

Since EXPO 2000 in Hannover we love to remeber the wonderul times of EXPO. So in the beginning of June every yera we have a big EXPO Revival Party. Lots of fun!

The Hannover flea market claims to be the biggest and nicest in central Europe. It takes place every Saturday.

Please have a look on my travelogue for some more impressions