Kieler Woche, Kiel

This world famous summer event in Germany is the biggest sailing event in the world. The 133^rd Kieler Woche is celebrated from 20^th to 28^th June 2015. This week-long sailing event is celebrated with diverse programmes. This week is also marked by the biggest open-air musical concerts and other performances. Even the children are included in the festivities with their own cultural events and games, conducted in the special park set apart for them.

The sailing event is spectacular with the participation of all sorts of sailing vessels – yachts, tall ships, dinghies, surf boats, speed launches etc. The week-long sailing activities this year include 40 planned sailing contests and more than 400 regattas. If you are a sailing enthusiast you can visit the Keil Sailing city to witness these events. The waters will look like sail forests with innumerable sails of various heights and sizes hoisted on their masts. It is a real visual wonder for the tourists and visitors.

The windjammer parade of the tall ships is the best part of every Kieler Woche. This is conducted on the second Saturday of the Kieler Woche. This year it falls on the 27^th of June. The parade is a magnificent event that starts at 11 am. The tall ships with white sails sail in a particular formation led by one of them in front. This no doubt is the main attraction of the whole week.

Besides being the largest sailing event, Kieler Woche includes multifarious programs in music, art and culture. More than 300 musical events are expected this year. The musical events include all kinds of music – folk, pop, rock and classical. You can pick and choose the style you like. There are a number of open-air concerts to choose from.

The performing theaters also become active during this week. There will be top-notch performances by world class artists in operas, plays and ballets. The mini cabaret performed by performers from all over the world is another significant attraction of this fun filled summer week in Germany.

Special play grounds are allotted for children to play their favorite games. They get a chance to run wild for a week and spend some of their extra energy. Cultural events and competitions are also organized for them.

The streets of the city will be teeming with all kinds of street performers like, magicians, clowns, comedians, acrobats, pantomimes and the like. You can be sure that you will never have a dull moment during this week, even when you go from one venue to another.

As if all these events are not enough, the museums and art galleries of the city will be open to all tourists, exhibiting the fabulous traditions, history, culture and artistic temperament of the city. You can be sure of a visual feast in every one of these museums and galleries.

If you think this week is all fun and frolic, you are mistaken. There are many companies and firms who invite the visitors to take part in discussions and watch useful presentations of various sorts. So if you are a hard core business person, you can combine a little work also with play.

Special navy events, regattas and other sporting events like golf, different ball games, chess, cycling etc. are also conducted. Many competitions and contests also take place during this week. This glorious week culminates in a grand fireworks display at the Kiel Fjord on the last Sunday of the event. In short, Kieler Woche is a completely fun-packed German summer event which you cannot afford to miss.

by Marina Chernyak