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Christmas Markets - Germany Christmas Markets are famous the World over and in Bavaria in particular are supposed some of the best Germany has to offer. Most markets are a mixture of food and drink stalls, decorations and presents. The markets are probably at their most attractive in the late afternoon, evenings, when the lights are on, then they have a cosy, traditional feel to them.
Below are listed the main daily markets:
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1 to 23 December
Monday-Thursday 10.00-20.00 Friday-Saturday 10.00-21.00 Sunday 11.30-20.00
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Passau
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Stalls set against the back drop of St Stephen Cathedral. There are Nativity scenes galore along the Krippenweg trail. Concerts daily, from Organ recitals to pop groups to puppet shows.
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30th November - 23rd December,
open daily 10.00-20.00
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Regensburg
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There are 2 markets in Regensburg. The main one selling local specialities, such as Lebucken, ½ meter length sausages, roasted chestnuts and Gluehwein. The second market is in the Thurn Taxis palace and specializes in crafts stalls and demonstrations. There are musical highlights, including concerts by the Domspatzen Boys Choir as well as Christmas cruises on the Danube.
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1 to 23 December
Mon to sat 10am to 8pm, Sun 11am to 8pm
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Wurzburg
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Held on the Oberer & Unterer Marktplatz, with the historic backdrop of the Gothic St Mary’s Chapel & the Falkenhaus Roccoco mansion. The town hall hosts an artists Christmas market.
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1 to 23 December
Mon to Fri 10am to 8.30pm
Sat 9am to 8.30pm
Sun 10am to 7.30pm
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Munich
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Held on the Marienplatz. The Kripperlmarkt, one of the largest in Germany, specializing in cribs and other nativity accessories, is held on Rindermarkt. There is Alpine Christmas live every day from the town hall balcony and the Glockenspiel is played on Mondays at 5pm.
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1 to 23 December.
Mon to Wed 9.30am to 8pm, Thur to Sat 9.30am to 9pm, Sun 10.30am to 9pm. (note on the 1st December, the market opens from 2pm to 9pm and on the 23rd December it is open 9.30am to 2pm only)
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Nuremburg
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Probably the most famous and one of the oldest markets of them all. The main market is held in the Hauptmarkt, with traditional stalls selling gifts, food & drink. There is a Kinderweihnacht (Children’s market) complete with a traditional style Christmas carousel. An upper tier of reindeer figures and santa’s sleigh. In the Rathausplatz, off to the side of the main market are stalls from the city’s twin cities across the world, including the UK, China, the Ukraine and more.
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25th November-1st January
9am - 7pm
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Prague
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Set in the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square
With a crib, Christmas trees from the Sumava mountains (Bohemian Forest) and choirs from around the world singing carols on the old town square
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11th - 23rd December
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Plzen
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Mainly home made crafts and Bohemian food and drink. Less commercial than most German markets.
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Zwiesel
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Christmas Market on 2nd Advent weekend.
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Regen
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Christmas Market on 3rd Advent weekend.
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Bodenmais
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Christmas Market on 3rd Advent weekend.
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21st December
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Bayerisch Eisenstein
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visit www.weihnachtsmarkt-eisenstein.de
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Sporting Events
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4 January 2008
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Spicak
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Ski Show - fun events for all
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2 - 5 February 2008
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Arber
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Mountain Freak - events for all
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1 & 2 March 2008
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Arber
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FIS Ski World Cup - Womens Slalom and Grand Slalom events
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1 March 2008
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Spicak
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Ski Cross World Cup
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? April 2008
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Arber
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Cable car/ski lifts stop at the end of the skiing season
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? May 2008
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Arber
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Cable Car re-opens
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7th to 29th June 2008
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Austria & Switzerland
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Euro 2008 - Finals of European Football Championships take place at venues in Austria & Switzerland. The nearest venues to us are Salzburg, Innsbruck and Vienna.
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27 July 2007
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Arber
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Arber Bike Marathon - Cycle ride from Regensburg to the Arber. Click here for info
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7th January to 20th February 2007
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Munich
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Known as Fasching in Bavaria, Carnival is a mardi Gras tradition in Germany speaking Europe.
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17th February 2007
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Bayerisch Eisenstein
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Local Fasching (carnival) - this year with a South Seas/Caribbean theme. 14.30pm - procession from the junction opposite petrol station to the Waidla-Huettn finishing with coffee and cakes. 19.00pm - Ball with music by 'Duo los Crachos (Hermi und Mich) and buffet. Entrance costs 9.99€ .
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Easter Monday April 9th 2007
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Regen
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50. Osterritt - 50th Easter Ride: Horse Procession through the town
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27th April to 6 May 2007
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Passau
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Passauer Maidult - Folk and Beer festival. Includes music, dancing, funfair, fireworks, parades and of course beer. Click here for details
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June 14th - 18th, 2007
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Bodenmais
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57th St Benno-Volksfest - Concerts, funfair, processions beer tents and food.
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June 22nd 24th, 2007
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Cesky Krumlow (CZ)
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Festival of the Five-Petalled Rose - Renaissance festival
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June 22nd-25th, 2007
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Rinchnach
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57th St. Guntherfest Beer and music from 16pm Friday, 3pm Saturday, 1.30pm Sunday, 3pm Monday. 10am Sunday - procession of 50 decorated horses and carts through local villages and back to Rinchnach (St. Gunther founded Rinchnach in 1011, forerunner of population of the whole Bavarian Forest)
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July 13th - 16th, 2007
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Ruhmannsfeld
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Volksfest with traditional costume
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July 14th-22nd, 2007
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Zwiesel
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Grenzlandfest (border country festival) - beer festival with different local bands, sporting events etc.
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July 27th-August 1st 2007
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Regen
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132nd Pichelsteiner Fest - Gondolas provide rides on the river Regen. Visitors can taste the famous original Pichelsteiner Eintopf (casserole) in the beer tents.
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July 27th - August 6th, 2007
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Deggendorf
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Volkfest
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July 29th, 2007
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Riedlhütte
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Glosafest - Glass auction, Flea market, classic car show
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August 2nd - 5th, 2007
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Arnbruck
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Heimatfest -
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August 4th, 2007
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Grafenau
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Saeumerfest (Salt Carriers Festival) Celebrating the 625 year history of the oldest town in the Bavarian Forest. From a camp at Haus im Wald, (8km from Grafenau), on Friday night, The Salt Carriers process on the Saturday to Grafenau where the Mayor & council receives them. There is a market with historical craft demonstrations, mummers and musicians on the town square.
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August 4th, 2007
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Zwiesel
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Bayerisch-böhmisches Begegnungsfest - Music and dance from both sides of the border, along with children events, football competition and fun run.
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August 11th-13th, 2007
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Bayerisch Eisenstein
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Ludwigshoehfest - Bayerisch Eisenstein's summer festival on a theme of 'Middle Ages without Borders'. There is a Children’s activity day on the Saturday at the field next to the Waidla-Huettn, with falconry, archery cart rides and more (subject to weather)
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August 31st-September 2nd, 2007
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Schloss Wolfstein, Freyung
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Freyunger Schlossfest. Friday 6pm Historic procession through Freyung to Schloss Wolfstein, Saturday/Sunday: Historic market and camp fires, fencing and falconry demonstrations, medieval music, fire eaters, belly dancers, children's programme. Sunday from 08.00 Flea market along the Grafenauer Strasse. Music, food and drink all day.
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September 3rd, 2006
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Bischofsmais
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14th St. Hermann Ride, from 09.00. Procession to St. Hermann, church service, procession through Bischofsmais and back to St. Hermann. From midday, beer tent and food. Afternoon: free pony rides and horse and cart rides.
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September 22nd - October 7th, 2006
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Munich
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Oktoberfest - the original, biggest and best! Travel by train from Bayerisch Eisenstein.
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October 5th-7th , 2007
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Plzen (CZ)
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Plzener Fest 165 - 165th anniversary of the first brew of Pilsener Urquell.
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February 4th - March 2nd, 2007
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Plzen (CZ)
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Smetena Days - 27th annual music festival
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June 22nd - July 22nd, 2007
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Straubing
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Agnes-Bernauer Festspiele (Play) - Tragic 15th Century love story/legend from the history of Straubing enacted by more than 200 local people.
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July 5th-8th, 2007
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Klatovy
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International Folklore Festival
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August 6th - 17th, 2007
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Plzen, CZ
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Na ulici - street festival - jazz, folk, country & western, theatre events on the streets
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August 17th to19th, 2007 and August 24th to 26th, 2007
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Perlesreut
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Passionsspiele (Passion Play)
Tickets:17€ (15€ in advance), children under 14, 12€
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October 28th 2007
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Gotteszell
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Folk Song & Music Festival with groups from all over Bavaria
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November 4th-8th, 2007
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Zwiesel
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Zwieseler Fink - folk music competition
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April ???, 2007
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Arber
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Traditional 'snow burning' on the Arber to mark the official end of the winter season. Music and food. 7pm to midnight
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May 4th-8th, 2007
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Plzen (CZ)
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Liberation Festival - celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the liberation of Plzen by the US Army in 1945
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25th May to 14th October 2007
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Zweisel
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BAYERN - BÖHMEN exhibition. Celebrating 1500 years as neighbours. Click here for more details. Guided tours in English available must be booked in advanced
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1st June - 4th November 2007
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Haus zur Wildnis, Ludwigsthal
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Amazonia Brasil (exhibition) - multi-cultural exhibition of the Amazon region.
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26th June to 2nd September 2007
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Waldkirchen
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GÄRTENSCHAU - A garden show to rival Chelsea? The show takes place at venues throughout the town. Click here for more details
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29th & 31st July, 2nd, 4th & 5th August 2007
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Bayerisch Eisenstein
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Historic steam locomotives run from Bayerisch Eisenstein to Zwiesel
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August 9th-20th , 2007
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Fürth im Wald
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Drachenstichspiele (Dragon Slaying Festival) The biggest historical spectacle in East Bavaria. A 500 year old tradition, originally based on the legend of St. George slaying the dragon. There are performances of the play depicting the medieval Hussite wars. Tickets need to be booked). On one day, there is jousting, a procession through the town with 1,500 participants in costume, more than 200 horses, bands and floats depicting 1,000 years of the area's history, beer festival. On another day, a children's historical festival.
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15th, 18th & 19th August 2007
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Bayerisch Eisenstein
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Historic steam locomotives run from Bayerisch Eisenstein to Hamry-Hojsova Straz (cz)
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19th August 2007
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Arber
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Arberkirchweih - Walk to the Arberschutzhaus for a mountain top church service
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September 1st-5th, 2006
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Karpfham/Bad Griesbach, Rottal
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Karpfhammer Fest - Largest agricultural show and family festival in Bavaria. Large fun fair. 6 large beer tents. Large annual show of agricultural equipment in Southern Germany. 37 different bands and entertainers.
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September 7th-9th, 2007
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Zwiesel, Theresienthal
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Bavarian-Bohemian Speciality Food Market
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23rd September 2007
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Bayerisch Eisenstein
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Leben & Natur in Böhmerwald Bahnhoffest - Celebrating 130 years as a border station, 40 years as a national park and 10 years of the WaldBahn
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12th to 15th October 2007
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Zwiesel
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Landesausstellung (similar to a county show in the UK)
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