Hanover Events and Festivals
(Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany)
Hanover keeps things rolling throughout the year with a hearty schedule of things to see and do including cultural festivals, business events and other special occasions. It's obvious the city of Hanover likes to present itself as one of the premier destinations in Germany, so something interesting should be happening during your visit.
Popular happenings in Hanover which attract huge crowds include the International Fireworks Festival, held in September and the lively Oktoberfest in October. The German-language listings magazines Prinz and the free MagaScene, both available at bookshops and newsagent, will keep visitors up-to-date on all forthcoming events and festivals.
Hanover National Public Holidays
- 1st January (New Year's Day)
- Late March or early April - Good Friday / Easter Sunday / Easter Monday
- 1st May (Labour Day)
- Early May - Ascension Day, 40 days after Easter
- May / June - Whit / Pentecost Sunday and Monday
- 3rd October (Day of German Unity)
- 25th December (Christmas Day)
- 26th December (Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day)
Hanover Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015
January
- ABF - this popular car, boat and leisure craft fair takes place at the Hanover Messegelande, attracting enthusiasts from around the continent
February
- There are no significant events and festivals in Hanover in February
March
- CeBIT - one of the world's premier technology fairs focusing on information and communications. This event takes place annually at the Hanover Exhibition Grounds
April
- Hanover Messe - this internationally recognised industrial technology fair is held each year at the Hanover Exhibition Grounds
May
- International Jazz Festival - held in May or June, popular jazz event attracting a wealth of visitors
- Masala - this eclectic and entertaining world music festival attracts thousands of musicians and music fans from around the world to kick off the summer in Hanover
- International Fireworks Competition - starting in May, this world-class event brings the best firework artists from around the globe to strut their stuff in Grosser Garden, Herrenhausen
June
- Royal Gardens Light Show - Grosser Garden in Herrenhausen becomes the stage for a series of impressive light shows
- Weltmusikfestival - musicians from Germany and all over the world converge on Hanover to play a series of concerts at the Pavilion and other venues around the city
July
- Marksmen's Festival (Schutzenfest) - Rifleman's Festival held in the Old Town and Schutzenplatz. Traditional festival featuring rides, games, beer gardens and a big parade
- Niedersachsen Festival - all the traditional Germanic cultures which have shaped Hanover over the centuries, fill the streets with costumes, food and regional music
August
- Altstadtfest - music is the focus of this lively and popular event which brings a range of musicians from around the world to entertain the crowds
- Maschseefest - Masch Lake is the scene of serious fun as beer, music and theatre bring the city together for a day of good times topped by a huge fireworks display
September
- International Fireworks Festival - you will have to pay to get in to Herrenhausen Gardens for the final competition of the fireworks festival, but it's well worth it
- Swinging Hanover - jazz comes to Hanover with a passion in this festival that celebrates the inevitably beautiful autumn
October
- Oktoberfest - in a last hurrah before the snows come, the city parties with beer, live performances and plenty of hearty food
- IZH - this prestigious international dog breeding show draws the top canines and their pampering owners to see who's the top dog
November
- Mimuse - Langenhagen Theatre is the venue for the country's best cabaret and comedy acts during this popular annual event
December
- Weihnachtsmarkt - this festive annual market features great Christmas gifts from local artisans amid an atmosphere of true seasonal spirit
- Christmas Holidays - December 25th / 26th, national holidays in Heidelberg and throughout Germany
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