Festival Season in Germany

Kranzplatzfest is held in a small park (about as big as half a football field) and yet they can find room for 2 stages, multiple beer stands, food, hippie culture clothes booths, and plenty of German festival tables.

Festivals in Germany are a piece of german engineering packed with fun.  These are a few of the recent festivals I (Pete) attended with friends in Wiesbaden (Mary is home in the USA working the greenhouse for her umpteenth season).  Apologies for the qualities of the pictures - they are taken with my iPhone - and yes, I do use it as a phone once in awhile.

One of our good friends here from Detroit for a few years - Chris and Sue.  We were enjoying the band and beer on a  Wednesday night before the Ascension Thursday Holiday.  Another reason there are so many festivals in May-June.

 

This act is a Doors tribute band.  They were right on with their keyboard-guitar-drums just like the Doors.  Best was the lead singer who looked like Jim Morrison might look today if he were alive - long gray beard, leather pants, big beer belly. 



This festival - Schlossgrabenfest (literally castle moat fest) is held in a small town near Wiesbaden famous for being the headquarters of Merck pharmaceuticals.  So they have some nice sponsor money to afford 4 stages and 100 bands in 4 days. 

Interesting people watching...

...and outfits.

And great festival food.  This is one of my favorites - plank salmon grilled over a wood fire.  Served in a fresh bun with dill and mustard sauce. 

Even the local bikers have a booth - burgers and Jack Coke.

This one you could smell a mile away... Knobi-Brot.  Essentially baked bread with garlic and other toppings!  Couldn't get myself to try this one.



Just off the grounds near the castle was this interesting bit of architecture.  A modern glass building built around remnants of the medieval wall of the city. 



And fnally, Germans among many things are not understated.  This says it all:  Slush with Alcohol.  Appeals to the kid in all of us.