Colors of Dortmund - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

The best way to get acquainted with cultural life of the local people is to visit one of numerous festivals. Rich choice of celebrations, festivals and exhibitions can be easily found in Dortmund literally every month, so simply every traveller can witness or participate in one of them. Westfalenhallen Cultural Center is widely known as one of the main venues for various festivals and ceremonies. This is the place where the annual event called «Chess-Meeting» takes place. The event traditionally attracts strongest chess players in the world. The complex is equipped with a large outdoor arena which has long attracted the attention of theater connoisseurs. On Christmas Eve the venue hosts the largest holiday market in the city.

When it comes to theatrical art, we simply cannot fail to mention the holiday called Micro! Festival!. The festival attracts theater companies from around the world. During the days of the grand theater festival visitors have a great opportunity to explore cultural traditions of different countries. Theater scenes are set on the main square of the city. Performed in the open-air, numerous plays become even more unique. Travelers are traditionally attracted by industrial festival named Extraschicht, in which participants are welcome to visit numerous interesting museums and historic plants located in the Ruhr area. Every year Dortmund hosts approximately forty international exhibitions that focus on a variety of topics.

Fans of hunting and fishing will be definitely interested in attending Jagd und Hund exhibition, which is usually held in late January. During this event the city hosts numerous hunting and fishing equipment trade fairs. Visitors are also welcome to visit interesting lectures and seminars dedicated to the protection of nature. Intermodellbau exhibition is devoted to another popular hobby - designing miniature models. Craftsmen present to the audience their models of airplanes, cars and ships made as close to original as possible, but reduced hundreds of times. As a rule, the exhibition contains no less than 20 thousand items. It will be interesting to visit not only by connoisseurs of this art, but also by all leisure travelers. This is only a small part of interesting cultural events that Dortmund can offer its guests. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

At the end of April, the same concert hall, Westfalenhalle, which traditionally hosts numerous festivals, becomes the location of one of the most grandiose events in the city. That is, of course, Mayday Festival. This is a music festival dedicated mostly to electronic music genres such as house, techno rave, trance, and industrial. Among headliners of the event, there are “cult musicians” of the German music scene and performers from different parts of the world. It is a true honor for many bands and musicians to participate in Mayday.

Juic's Beats is one more interesting and popular open-air festival. It takes place at the end of July. This is a large event that is visited by approximately 33 000 people every year. Juic's Beats is an inimitable mix of energetic electronic music and other music styles, such as hip-hop, indie, and R'n'B. This music cannot leave anyone indifferent. The names of headliners of this event will certainly make all music fans hurry up and buy tickets – organizers try to do their best to invite only popular and famous musicians. The event takes place in Westfalen Park. In order to make a connection to the name of the festival, all areas of the event are named after certain fruit. Visitors can also buy fruit in numerous kiosks that are open during Juic's Beats.

At the end of May, Dortmund hosts one more interesting music event – Klangvokal. The festival takes place in LWL-Industriemuseum Zeche Zollern. It is a great place to listen to music of different genres, including modern versions of famous classical music pieces. Hello World Fest, which takes place in Westfalenhalle at the end of June, gathers all music fans to the same venue. As it is not hard to guess from the name, musicians playing different music and from different countries participate in this festival.

Travelers, who visit Dortmund at the end of August, will be able to participate in one more famous open-air event – Dutty. It takes place in Junkyard. Only lively music plays at this festival as sorrow has no room there. So, prepare to listen to reggae, pop funk, African vibes, and Latino. Travelers, who visit Dortmund at the beginning of the month, will be able to listen to Caribbean Calypso rhythms. The popular open-air event takes place in Hombrucher Marktplatz, and the festival itself is called Hombruch Karibisch. This is the time when Dortmund turns into a little piece of the Caribbean in Germany. Exotic cocktails, Calypso music, and authentic food traditionally attract numerous guests to this event. There is only one German thing at Hombruch Karibisch – beer. It is simply impossible to imagine any event in Germany without this national drink.

Music summer continues with Sommersause mit Pohlmann, one more music festival that takes place in the city in the middle of July. This open-air festival has Lindenhorster Str. 38 as its regular location. That is the address of Werkstätten der AWO Dortmund GmbH. The main idea of the festival is to let disabled people have fun and perform on the scene. Naturally, absolutely everyone is welcome to attend this event. The festival is organized by a company that helps people with disabilities. Visitors will be able to enjoy an amazing music, dancing, and cooking program.

The beginning of August is the time for one more festival that is dedicated to the divine foamy drink. The event’s name is Bierkönig Festival. Located at Galopprennbahn, this festival is a true paradise for all beer fans. They will be able to try the best German beer and delicious snacks. This is not the only beer-focused event. It would be a mistake not to mention Oktoberfest Dortmund Wischlingen. Yes, the legendary holiday takes place not only in Munich. At the end of September or beginning of October, Dortmund also becomes the capital of the divine foamy drink.

The famous Hansemarkt fair trade, which takes place in Kleppingstraße starting from the end of October and until the beginning of November, is a true magnet for everyone who wants to purchase interesting and unique items inspired by medieval times. This fair trade is something like an opening act for Weihnachtsmarkt. In addition to crafts, it is possible to purchase delicious food and local specialties at the fair trade. There is one more interesting event dedicated to the Middle Ages in the city - Volksgarten Mengede. This festival, which takes place at the end of May, has a rich schedule that includes knight tournaments, buhurts, circus performances, music concerts of folk bands, a medieval fair trade, and master classes. The program really promises to be an interesting and exciting one. It would be a mistake not to mention Weihnachtsmarkt events that are traditional for German cities. The largest markets in Dortmund are open on Hansaplatz, Alter Markt, Reinoldi-Kirchplatz, Kleppingstraße, and Willy-Brandt-Platz.