Six spring festivals to mark the changing of the seasons in Germany
If the recent bout of cold weather got you bundled up again, not to fear: there is sunshine on the horizon. Temperatures are set to rise once again just in time to mark the true beginning of spring on the equinox.
In Germany spring generally brings longer, warmer days and more opportunities to get outside, and it also brings the start of festival season.
From regional folk festivals and Frühlingsfeste to quirky cultural celebrations, there are plenty of regional events to be celebrated across Germany in the coming weeks and months.
Here are six of Germany's bigger festivals to put you in the springtime mood.
April 11th - May 5th: Spring Dippemess, Frankfurt
Jolting visitors into the spirit of spring with its brightly-coloured atmosphere and adrenaline-inducing carnival rides, Frankfurt's Spring Dippemess is an experience not to be missed by those living in the business capital or surrounding regions.
For adults there's a roller coaster, a Ferris Wheel and other thrilling attractions and for kids there are plenty of children's rides and carnival games.
Of course there are bountiful food and drink options for all ages as well.
Dippemess opens each day in the early afternoon and ends at 11pm or midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Note that it's closed every Monday except for Easter Monday.
There is no official parking on the premises, so you'd be advised to travel by train or public transit: You can take Frankfurt's U7 U-bahn line to the station at Eissporthalle/Festplatz.
April 19th - May 5th: Nuremberg's Volksfest
An annual Volksfest (or folk festival) is a tradition in many larger towns in Germany each year, which typically combines a beer or wine festival and a travelling funfair with carnival-type rides.
If you spend a spring or summer season anywhere in southern or western Germany, you're bound to hear about a few different Volksfeste in some of the nearby cities.
Here you'll find boisterous beer-drinking tents serving up locally brews by the litre next to rollercoasts and racing carousels that can really test your stomach.
April 19th - May 11th: Stuttgart Spring Festival
For those in Baden-Württemberg (or those who'd like to visit) the region's biggest spring festival - and arguably Germany's biggest - is found in Stuttgart at the Cannstatter Wasen.
People walk across the Cannstatter Wasen during the Stuttgart Spring Festival at dusk. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Schmidt
Similar to other Volks- and Spring festivals, you'll find carnival rides, festive treats, people in traditional dress and big tents for drinking big beers while singing along to a live band.
A note for families: there are 'family days' offering reduced prices for rides.
You may also want to time your visit to coincide with one of the special events, such as the a hot air balloon spring race on April 26th or musical fireworks on May 11th.
April 25th - May 11th: Munich's Spring Festival
Munich's Frühlingsfest has become known to many as the 'little sister of Oktoberfest' (or Kleine Wiesn) because it offers much of the same vibe and attractions, if at a smaller capacity.
According to the event's website, 'unlike the Oktoberfest, the Spring Festival is not a royal wedding, but was first held in 1964 to provide a source of income for the showmen and women after the long winter months.'
So come on down and support Bavaria's showmen and women, or just come to wear Lederhosen and eat a half-chicken with a litre of your favourite Münchener Bräu. Either way it's a pleasant way to spend a day.
A Ferris wheel turns at the tree blossom festival in Werder an der Havel. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Julian Stähle
April 26th - May4th: Tree Blossom Festival, Werder (Havel)
Gazing at tree blossoms while enjoying various local fruit wines is the name of the game at the Baumblütenfest found just west of Berlin in the town of Werder on the Havel River.
Similar to the spring fests mentioned above, you'll find a mix of funfair, drinking and song and dance here. But instead of beer tents, you'll find open-air courtyards in vibrant gardens, surrounded by the sweet scents and sounds of spring.
This year the courtyards open to visitors on April 26th, whereas the rest of the fair kicks-off on May 1st.
May 24th: Japan Day, Düsseldorf
Cherry blossom season is sadly over by the time Japantag rolls around in Düsseldorf, but that doesn't stop the city celebrating its unique affinity with Japanese culture.
Each year in May, the North Rhine-Westphalian capital is transformed into the location of one of the largest Japanese cultural festivals in Europe. And it's no wonder: Düsseldorf is home to the largest Japanese diaspora in Germany, and the third largest in the continent.
Visitors to Japantag can expect a day full of Japanese art, culture and culinary delights as well as a spectacular fireworks display over the Rhine in the evening.
The event is spread between several locations along the east side of the Rhine including a pop-culture stage at Johannes-Rau-Platz, manga, anime and craft stalls at Reuter Barracks, and the main stage at Burgplatz, among other sites.
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