Summer time is festival time in Germany. Throughout the country hundreds of different open-air music festivals and cultural happenings offer a vast variety of international and local artists drawing large crowds either within the cities or special outdoor venues – all in the pleasant summer air.
The Ruhr region as European Capital of Culture offers alone 23 music festivals in July and August. Highlights are the Love Parade in Duisburg, formerly held in Berlin, with 1.5 million visitors (July 24) and the ‘Bochum Total’ City Festival with several German and international stars on different stages throughout the city (July 15 -18).
http://www.essenfuer-das-ruhrgebiet.ruhr2010.de/
In Xanten, near Cologne, the Annual Summer Festival in the ancient Roman amphitheater is a highlight for friends of opera, musical and theater performances. International artists provide spectacular, high-quality entertainment and the outstanding acoustics in the 2000 year old open-air theater (August 13 – 29). Web: http://www.xanten.de/
The Museum Embankment Festival in Frankfurt is a cultural highlight in Germany’s annual festival calendar. Spread along the River Main, the festival features a non-stop program of cultural events and also takes in numerous major museums, theaters and concert halls across the city (August 27 – 29). Web: http://www.frankfurt-tourismus.de/
Cologne hosts this year the VIII. Gay Games and the world-wide gaycommunity will celebrate with sport and cultural events throughout the city. More than 10.000 participants from 70 countries will participate (July 31 – August 7). Web: http://www.games-cologne.de/