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Cologne Marathon
14 Sep 2014 Like any self-respecting city these days, Cologne has its own marathon route. Over 27,000 participants pound the streets each year as they rack up their self-inflicted quota of 41.9 kilometres (26.22 miles.) It's the third most popular marathon in Germany (the other two taking place in Hamburg and Berlin) so there's something of an atmosphere in the air. Plus, as a spectator, there's a good chance of catching sight some world-class athletes in action. Venue: Streets of Cologne. Web: http://www.koeln-marathon.de/ Kunstsalon – Musik in der Häusern der Stadt 4 Nov 2014 - 9 Nov 2014 This cool music festival takes its inspiration from a simple yet effective formula: to let private hosts provide platforms for young and emerging artists to express themselves by performing in private venues. Coordinated across Cologne, Hamburg, Bonn, Mannheim and beyond, the annual festival creates an intimate atmosphere for appreciating new music as well as drawing the cities together. Venue: Throughout the city. Web: http://www.kunstsalon.de/musik-in-den-haeusern-der-stadt/ Lange Nacht der Kölner Museen 8 Nov 2014 Lange Nacht der Kölner Museen, (Long Night of the Cologne Museums), takes place each November and involves a coordinated throwing open of doors of the city's museums. Between 7pm and 3am, up to 45 different museums welcome in every kind of night owl while putting on a show that involves live music, tours, readings and films. Even better: you only need a single ticket to access all that's on offer. Venue: Across the museums of Cologne. Web: http://www.museumsnacht-koeln.de/Home Weihnachtsmärkte (Christmas Markets) 24 Nov 2014 - 23 Dec 2014 Six markets offering food, drink and crafts plus events and Advent boat trips. Venue: Around the centre of Cologne. Web: http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/cologne_christmas_market.php Carnival Cologne 12 Feb 2015 - 18 Feb 2015 One of the biggest events on the calendar, carnival sweeps across the city each year as a vibrant display of how to have a good time. Expect lots of fancy dress, plenty of parties, parades and not an awful lot of sobriety. There's ceremonial burning of straw figures, bouquets of flowers and cries of "Kölle Alaaf". ('Long Live Cologne!'). Venue: Streets of Cologne. Web: http://www.cologne-tourism.com/whats-on/carnival/dates.html Romanische Sommer 20 Jun 2015 - 29 Jun 2015 (To be confirmed) Cologne has some of the finest Romanesque churches in the world and every couple of years they gather together to produce a summer festival of music performed at a variety of different churches. Expect a range of classical music, from string quartets to organ concertos and both solo and choral singing events. Piano recitals also feature, as do explorations of Chinese music. Venue: Romanesque churches across Cologne. Web: http://www.romanischer-sommer.de/ Cologne Pride/Christopher Street Day 22 Jun 2015 - 7 Jul 2015 (To be confirmed) Hundreds of thousands of revellers pack the city streets for the annual Cologne Pride/Christopher Street Day parade. One of the largest gay and lesbian events in Germany, the celebration aims to raise awareness and social acceptance of lesbians, gays, bi- and transsexuals. The main event is the huge parade consisting of dancers, floats and sounds systems that makes its way through the city's streets. Other events take place throughout the city during the weekend. The event now attracts about a million visitors each year. Venue: Various venues and locations. Web: http://www.csd-cologne.de/ SummerJam 5 Jul 2015 - 7 Jul 2015 (To be confirmed) For three days revellers can get down to the bass-heavy sounds of reggae music at the largest event of its kind in the country. Performances take place on different stages at the festival site on an island on Fuhlinger lake on the outskirts of Cologne. This fun event attracts some of the biggest names in reggae - past performers have included Asian Dub Foundation, Gregory Isaacs, Toots and the Maytals, Jimmy Cliff and Ziggy Marley. Venue: Fuhlinger lake, , Fuhlinger See. Fuhlinger See Cologne Germany Web: http://summerjam.de/ Kölner Lichter Musical Fireworks 11 Jul 2015 For a bit of razzle-dazzle, head to Cologne in the summer to witness its extravagant firework display called Kölner Lichter. Watch from the river banks or from the river itself as the sky over Cologne's Old Town lights up to the sound of music as the evening progresses. Venue: Above Cologne's Old Town. Web: http://www.koelner-lichter.de |
