Felicity Long
There is a lot of hoopla in Germany this year surrounding the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, and deservedly so. There will be themed exhibitions and events on tap throughout the year in various locations, especially at such famous Martin Luther-related sites as the Castle Church in Wittenberg and Wartburg castle.
That said, sometimes blockbuster events can overshadow other news; so with that in mind, here are a few other highlights for 2017 in Germany.
• The long-awaited opening of the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg kicked off Jan. 12 with a week of musical events, including performances by the venue's new resident orchestra as well as the Chicago Symphony
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Orchestra and world renowned cellist Yo-Yo-Ma. Similar performances, by internationally known artists and rising stars alike, are scheduled throughout the year.
• Feb. 21 will mark the annual Biikebrennen, or Island Fire, on the North Frisian Islands, most prominently on the islands of Sylt, Amrum and Fohr.
A folk festival that marks good riddance to winter and welcome to spring, Biikebrennen lights up the night with massive bonfires up and down the coast along with dance and theatrical presentations and tastings of traditional culinary dishes. A yearly event since the 19th century, the Biikebrennen was named to the Unesco list of intangible cultural heritage in Germany in 2014 and has become so popular among locals and tourists that it has even spread to nearby southern Denmark.
• The 100th anniversary of the death of Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the creator of the eponymous airship, will be feted with an exhibition at the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. The exhibition will run from May through October.
• The International Garden Exhibition, which takes place every 10 years in different locations, will be held in Berlin from April through October this year. The event will be located on 247 acres in the district of Marzahn-Hellersdorf, outside the city center.
• Art lovers are expected to descend on Cologne from April 28 to May 1 for Art Cologne to take in exhibitions of modern and contemporary art from the 20th and 21st centuries.
For more on upcoming events in Germany, visit http://www.germany.travel/en/index.html.