Festivals

Germany’s Oktoberfest is one of the biggest parties in the world. Each year more than six million visitors arrive in Munich for the 3-week festival celebrating beer, schnitzel and song. With so many people descending at the same time, it’s important to work with a tour company with experience, which is just what I got with Ludus Tours (Ludus Group, P.O. Box 50251, Austin, TX 78763; 866/343-6133, www.ludustours.com, www.oktoberfesttours.com and www.trackandfieldtours.com).

My wife, Diane, and I flew to Scotland on Aug. 12, 2007, for what was our fifth visit to the Edinburgh International Festival (The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 2NE, UK; phone +44 [0] 131 473 2099, www.eif.co.uk) and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (180 High St., Edinburgh, Scotland EH1 1QS, UK; phone +44 [0] 131 226 0026, www.edfringe.com).

by Beth Habian, Features Editor

Through a travel agent friend, in May ’06 two friends and I booked a Christmas markets cruise with Viking River Cruises. The Nov. 28, 2006, sailing of the Viking Danube Explorer from Nuremberg to Vienna was our first experience with river cruising, but it will not be our last. (We booked a cruise with Viking from St. Petersburg to Moscow, Russia, for September 2007.)

We enjoyed the ship, other passengers, the hardworking enthusiastic young crew and the chance to visit some of Germany and Austria’s Christmas markets.

My husband and I sailed on Holland America Line’s MS Statendam for a “Japan and Transpacific Passage” (Japan/Siberia) cruise, April 29-May 21, 2006, which we booked through Vantage Deluxe World Travel. Before leaving home, we sent a copy of our 100 shares of stock to the cruise line’s parent company, Carnival Cruises, in order to receive $250 in shipboard credit.

My wife, Mary Ellen, and I were in Switzerland for 10 days in September ’06. We stayed in Merligen, which is on Lake Thun and near Interlaken. We had been in this area before and basically were interested in hiking in the beautiful mountains of the area, which was marvelous.

The highlight of the trip was the Unspunnen Festival in Interlaken, starting on Sept. 1 and ending with a parade on Sept 3. Held every 12 years, this festival was scheduled for 2005, but the rains and floods caused it to be postponed until 2006.

Approximately 2,500 visitors visited the kingdom of Bhutan for the late September/early October festivals in 2006 — a record-high attendance. Despite full flights and hotels at capacity, the festival season was one of the most enjoyable I’ve ever experienced. Everyone was on their “best behavior,” following the new rules governing demeanor and dress for the festival season.

The Ministry of Home & Cultural Affairs had published this circular:

In the November ’06 “All Aboard!” column, Jay Brunhouse mentions Karneval in Cologne, Germany. However, in 2007 Ash Wednesday occurs on Feb. 21, not April 4. Good Friday is April 6.

No other place in the world celebrates the Christmas holiday season quite like Germany. In a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, Germany’s colorful Christmas markets turn its towns and cities into festive centers of holiday tradition.

During the annual 4-week Advent season leading up to Christmas, numerous towns and cities throughout Germany hold festive and colorful Christmas markets, often referred to as Christkindlesmarkt locally.