What's on in Germany: June 17 - 23
This Week's Highlights: Christopher Street Day in Berlin, the Rowing World Cup in Munich and Altona parties in Hamburg.
BERLIN
Festivals
Christopher Street Day (CSD) Parade
One of Berlin's biggest annual events, CSD incorporates a colourful, free-spirited parade that seems to have filled the gap made by the loss of the Love Parade. Winding its way through the city from western-lying Kurfürstendamm past the iconic Siegessäule column up to Brandenburg Gate, this jovial demonstration for lesbian and gay rights melts into the ultimate street party by the end of the day. Bring your dancing shoes, and maybe even some earplugs for posterity (your grandchildren will thank you).
Price: Free
Location: Parade route
Times: 21st June, 1pm - open ended
Phone: 030 23 62 86 32
More Information: CSD Berlin
Fête de la Musique
Berlin's rendition of Fête de la Musique kicks off the summer with a cornucopia of free live music performances on more than 60 stages throughout the city. Representing numerous genres including electro, jazz, world music and numerous others, this celebration of the solstice makes liberal use of the longest day of the year. Berlin rings in the new season simultaneously with participating municipalities in more than 100 countries across the globe.
Price: Free
Location: Various locations (German)
Times: 19th June, 2pm - open ended
More Information: Fête de la Musique Website
COLOGNE
Festivals
Cologne Pride: Opening Events
As one of Germany's biggest and most festive pride celebrations, Cologne Pride kicks off its opening parties June 19th, spanning an additional two weeks. Officials expect the first weekend to draw hundreds of thousands of LGBT supporters to inner-Cologne, with Fantasy Pride in Phantasialand and WomenPride leading off the agenda. Upbeat themes and a myriad of fun and educational activities will pave the way to the grand finale on July 4th, when Cologne's CSD parade snakes through the city. This widely-anticipated event draws leading German and international DJs, not to mention a diverse selection of patrons.
Price: Varies
Location: Varies
Times: 19th June, 9am
More Information: Cologne Pride Website
DÜSSELDORF
Festival
Midsummer Night in Düsseldorf
Imported French festivals aren't the only way to celebrate the summer solstice: Düsseldorf's Altstadt plays up its own midsummer tradition with a cast of cultural events, culinary offerings and late-night museum mischief. The Altstadt's labyrinth of narrow alleyways and centuries-old architecture add a bit of mystical charm, while the Lange Tafel (long table) near the Rhine offers too many delectables to pass up.
Price: Free
Location: Altstadt
Times: 19th June, all day until sundown
More Information: No website available
HAMBURG
Festivals
Altonale Street Festival
With its diverse roster of entertainers and activities, the Altonale sends an annual shockwave of energy through Hamburg's Altona district. This spectacle for the masses makes the sunny Hamburg afternoons even brighter with its multi-coloured floats, costumes, puppets and a thousand other head-turning sights and sounds. The special line-up of musical and theatrical performances draws spectators up and down the festival grounds for a taste of what alternative Hamburg has to offer.
Price: Free, varies for kultur altonale events
Location: Mediaeval Market between the Rathaus and Christianskirche
Times: 18th-20th June, daily from 11am
Phone: 040 39 80 69 70
More Information: Altonale Street Festival Website
Hamburg Day of Music
From concert halls to churches and schools, Hamburg's Day of Music is expanding its already-extensive programme in 2010. Sponsored by the German Music Council and the Verein Tag der Musik e. V., last year's festival saw some 300 events take place under its guise. This year, festival-related events will be spread throughout the country. What's more: not only is everyone welcome to watch, but the public is also being encouraged to contribute their musical two-cents. So don't be afraid to grab your instrument of choice and join in!
Price: €7, €5 discounted
Location: Various
Times: 17th - 21st June, various times (see website for details)
More Information: Hamburg Day of Music Website
FRANKFURT
Festival
Opernplatz Festival
One of Frankfurt's most breathtaking plazas transforms into a hub of performance art once a year for this charming street festival. Chock-full of regional flair, this is the perfect opportunity to take in the Frankfurter (sausage), the Frankfurter (locals), some refreshing apple wine, and of course, the summer sun. As with the beer gardens, bank employees tend to frequent the gathering in front of the Alte Oper during the day, while a more alternative crowd rotates in towards the evening.
Price: Varies
Location: Opernplatz
Times: 23rd June - 2nd July, daily 11am - 11pm (check website for details)
More Information: Opernplatz Festival Website
MUNICH
Sports
Rowing World Cup
The second stage of the World Rowing Cup brings the best-of-the-best regatta competitors to Munich's Oberschleissheim district. Winners of this particular leg secure a Rowing World Cup Leading Nation Cup in their class, while the country with the most points from all three regattas earns the title of Rowing World Cup Champion. Great Britain came out on top in 2007 and 2008, although Germany slipped past them for the overall Cup in 2009.
Price: €15; €10 discounted
Location: Olympia Regattaverein Munich
Times: 18-20 June, 9am - 6pm
Phone: 089 315 85 200
More Information: Rowing World Cup Website
Concert
Tuija Komi Quintet
With a formidable fan base in Germany, Finnish singer
Tuija Komi is now ready to present her debut album. Rempallaan, meaning "wonderful chaos", is a collection of particularly diverse jazz pieces styled for swing, tango and soul interpretations. Loved for her raw, sensual voice, authenticity and charm, Komi will perform the album live with fellow musicians Mathias Götz, Tizian Jost, Manolo Diaz and Martin Kolb at Munich's Unterfahrt jazz club.
Price: €14; €7 discounted (club members)
Location: Jazz Club Unterfahrt, Einsteinstrasse 42
Times: 23rd June, 9pm
Phone: 089 4482794
More Information: Tuija Komi's Website
WEIMAR
Concert/Festival
Köstritzer Spiegelzelt
Festival 2010: Uri Caine
New York pianist and composer Uri Caine ranks among the most remarkable members of the American jazz scene today. Born in Philadelphia, Caine began playing piano at seven and was studying with French musician Bernard Peiffer by the age of twelve. Though he gained cult status on the New York circuit in the 1980s as a jazz pianist, Caine is known for his inventive interpretations of the classical genre, with 16 albums as a testament to his one-of-a-kind talent and passion.
Price: €25, €21 discounted
Location: Köstritzer Spiegelzelt, Beethovenplatz
Times: 19th June, 8:30pm
Phone: 036 43 745 745
More Information: Köstritzer Spiegelzelt Festival: Uri Caine Webpage
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See Also
BERLIN
Festivals
Christopher Street Day (CSD) Parade
One of Berlin's biggest annual events, CSD incorporates a colourful, free-spirited parade that seems to have filled the gap made by the loss of the Love Parade. Winding its way through the city from western-lying Kurfürstendamm past the iconic Siegessäule column up to Brandenburg Gate, this jovial demonstration for lesbian and gay rights melts into the ultimate street party by the end of the day. Bring your dancing shoes, and maybe even some earplugs for posterity (your grandchildren will thank you).
Price: Free
Location: Parade route
Times: 21st June, 1pm - open ended
Phone: 030 23 62 86 32
More Information: CSD Berlin
Fête de la Musique
Berlin's rendition of Fête de la Musique kicks off the summer with a cornucopia of free live music performances on more than 60 stages throughout the city. Representing numerous genres including electro, jazz, world music and numerous others, this celebration of the solstice makes liberal use of the longest day of the year. Berlin rings in the new season simultaneously with participating municipalities in more than 100 countries across the globe.
Price: Free
Location: Various locations (German)
Times: 19th June, 2pm - open ended
More Information: Fête de la Musique Website
COLOGNE
Festivals
Cologne Pride: Opening Events
As one of Germany's biggest and most festive pride celebrations, Cologne Pride kicks off its opening parties June 19th, spanning an additional two weeks. Officials expect the first weekend to draw hundreds of thousands of LGBT supporters to inner-Cologne, with Fantasy Pride in Phantasialand and WomenPride leading off the agenda. Upbeat themes and a myriad of fun and educational activities will pave the way to the grand finale on July 4th, when Cologne's CSD parade snakes through the city. This widely-anticipated event draws leading German and international DJs, not to mention a diverse selection of patrons.
Price: Varies
Location: Varies
Times: 19th June, 9am
More Information: Cologne Pride Website
DÜSSELDORF
Festival
Midsummer Night in Düsseldorf
Imported French festivals aren't the only way to celebrate the summer solstice: Düsseldorf's Altstadt plays up its own midsummer tradition with a cast of cultural events, culinary offerings and late-night museum mischief. The Altstadt's labyrinth of narrow alleyways and centuries-old architecture add a bit of mystical charm, while the Lange Tafel (long table) near the Rhine offers too many delectables to pass up.
Price: Free
Location: Altstadt
Times: 19th June, all day until sundown
More Information: No website available
HAMBURG
Festivals
Altonale Street Festival
With its diverse roster of entertainers and activities, the Altonale sends an annual shockwave of energy through Hamburg's Altona district. This spectacle for the masses makes the sunny Hamburg afternoons even brighter with its multi-coloured floats, costumes, puppets and a thousand other head-turning sights and sounds. The special line-up of musical and theatrical performances draws spectators up and down the festival grounds for a taste of what alternative Hamburg has to offer.
Price: Free, varies for kultur altonale events
Location: Mediaeval Market between the Rathaus and Christianskirche
Times: 18th-20th June, daily from 11am
Phone: 040 39 80 69 70
More Information: Altonale Street Festival Website
Hamburg Day of Music
From concert halls to churches and schools, Hamburg's Day of Music is expanding its already-extensive programme in 2010. Sponsored by the German Music Council and the Verein Tag der Musik e. V., last year's festival saw some 300 events take place under its guise. This year, festival-related events will be spread throughout the country. What's more: not only is everyone welcome to watch, but the public is also being encouraged to contribute their musical two-cents. So don't be afraid to grab your instrument of choice and join in!
Price: €7, €5 discounted
Location: Various
Times: 17th - 21st June, various times (see website for details)
More Information: Hamburg Day of Music Website
FRANKFURT
Festival
Opernplatz Festival
One of Frankfurt's most breathtaking plazas transforms into a hub of performance art once a year for this charming street festival. Chock-full of regional flair, this is the perfect opportunity to take in the Frankfurter (sausage), the Frankfurter (locals), some refreshing apple wine, and of course, the summer sun. As with the beer gardens, bank employees tend to frequent the gathering in front of the Alte Oper during the day, while a more alternative crowd rotates in towards the evening.
Price: Varies
Location: Opernplatz
Times: 23rd June - 2nd July, daily 11am - 11pm (check website for details)
More Information: Opernplatz Festival Website
MUNICH
Sports
Rowing World Cup
The second stage of the World Rowing Cup brings the best-of-the-best regatta competitors to Munich's Oberschleissheim district. Winners of this particular leg secure a Rowing World Cup Leading Nation Cup in their class, while the country with the most points from all three regattas earns the title of Rowing World Cup Champion. Great Britain came out on top in 2007 and 2008, although Germany slipped past them for the overall Cup in 2009.
Price: €15; €10 discounted
Location: Olympia Regattaverein Munich
Times: 18-20 June, 9am - 6pm
Phone: 089 315 85 200
More Information: Rowing World Cup Website
Concert
Tuija Komi Quintet
With a formidable fan base in Germany, Finnish singer Tuija Komi is now ready to present her debut album. Rempallaan, meaning "wonderful chaos", is a collection of particularly diverse jazz pieces styled for swing, tango and soul interpretations. Loved for her raw, sensual voice, authenticity and charm, Komi will perform the album live with fellow musicians Mathias Götz, Tizian Jost, Manolo Diaz and Martin Kolb at Munich's Unterfahrt jazz club.
Price: €14; €7 discounted (club members)
Location: Jazz Club Unterfahrt, Einsteinstrasse 42
Times: 23rd June, 9pm
Phone: 089 4482794
More Information: Tuija Komi's Website
WEIMAR
Concert/Festival
Köstritzer Spiegelzelt Festival 2010: Uri Caine
New York pianist and composer Uri Caine ranks among the most remarkable members of the American jazz scene today. Born in Philadelphia, Caine began playing piano at seven and was studying with French musician Bernard Peiffer by the age of twelve. Though he gained cult status on the New York circuit in the 1980s as a jazz pianist, Caine is known for his inventive interpretations of the classical genre, with 16 albums as a testament to his one-of-a-kind talent and passion.
Price: €25, €21 discounted
Location: Köstritzer Spiegelzelt, Beethovenplatz
Times: 19th June, 8:30pm
Phone: 036 43 745 745
More Information: Köstritzer Spiegelzelt Festival: Uri Caine Webpage
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