July in Germany - Great Festivals for Family

July is alive in Germany, it is the height of the tourist season so there are festivals everywhere. Hot air balloon festivals, funfairs like the Hamburg Dom, the Maschsee Festival in Hannover, the Rhine in Flames or even the German-American Festival in Berlin. Small towns along the Rhine and Mosel offer festivals and there are hundreds of small arts and crafts fairs in towns across Germany.

Fleetinsel Festival

Hamburg, Germany

20-29 July 2007

Hamburg's Fleetinsel Festival lasts for ten days with tents, food, beer and arts and crafts stalls along the Speicherstadt and the Elbe river. There are over 300 performances and the setting is lovely, the food international, and the art on offer superb.

Saxonia International Balloon Fiesta

Leipzig, Germany

25-29 July 2007

OK, don't know what I love more about the Saxonia International Balloon Fiesta - that the name is the Saxonia Balloon fiesta or that you can see over 100 hot air balloons both during the day and at the incredible night-time flyover.

Maschsee Festival (Maschseefest)

Hannover, Germany

25 July - 12 August 2007

Spend an evening or day around the Hannover Maschsee and visit the Maschsee Festival which is replete with food, great performances, fireworks in a beautiful setting on the shores of Hannover's Maschsee. den).

Tuebingen Summer Festival

Tübingen, Germany

28 July - 13 August 2007

The medieval town of Tuebingen on the Neckar River hosts a summer festival replete with street performers, food and drink stalls, rides, and entertainment. You can stroll the cobbled streets of Tuebingen, feast on German street fare and sample the hundreds of wurst offerings at the delicatessen market. On Aug 13, there is a brilliant fireworks display over the Necktar.

German-American Fair

Berlin, Germany

27 July - 19 August 2007

The Truman Plaza in Berlin's Dahlem district is transformed into a mix of German and American cultures every year as Berlin focuses on one state to host. There is plenty of entertainment, drinks and great food. This year the focus is on Los Angeles - having grown up in LA, I am looking forward to seeing the merger of German and LA culture - whatever LA culture is at the moment.

Sand World Travemünde

Lübeck, Germany 6 July - 2 September 2007 Sand sculptors create massive pieces of art, this year look for the history of man - it promises to be a fantastic experience in history and art.