Events

Carnival is approaching and you are either preparing to flee or getting ready to party. If you’re doing the latter then you’ve probably planned your costumes already. But if you’re still at a loss for ideas, get down to Cologne’s Südstadt on Saturday 04 February and find yourself a funky costume at the Karneval Flohmarkt in the Lutherkirche.

Tomorrow is Eurovision and it's taking place right here in the Rhine city of Düsseldorf. If you're from anywhere outside of continental Europe you probably didn't even realize. But in Germany the annual kitsch-fest is celebrated with Eurovision parties and an abundance of airplay for the German entry. Here's some Eurovision facts to get you in the mood:

If Germany's Lena Meyer-Landrut wins on Saturday she will become the first ever Eurovision Song Contest winner to defend her title successfully.

The words 'Tupperware party' cunjure up all sorts of images, most of them from the sixties or seventies, involving a bunch of housewives cooing over multi-coloured plastic. You might be surprised to hear that they're still going strong today and we have a tupperware party organizer right here in the Cologne/Bonn area. What's more, if your German's not so hot, she can talk you through the latest range of plastic kitchenware, in English.

Buxom ladies, leather clad men and lots of big glasses of strong beer - yes, it's time for the Oktoberfest. Sadly we're too far away from Bavaria to party at the real 'Wiesn' (as the locals in München call it), but you don't have to miss out - we've got our very own Oktoberfest here in Cologne.

Get practising your oooohs and aaaahs, by the end of this weekend you'll have a crick in your neck and and you'll have worn out your vocabulary of appreciative noises as the 'Kölner Lichter' explodes over the city of Cologne. This annual fireworks display is an extravaganza of rocket propelled gun powder synchronised to music.

The weekend of 12th and 13th of June sees a merry mix of medieval and modern festivities to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Godesburg castle. Visitors to Bad Godesberg will be treated not so much to a time warp as to a time tunnel, with a medieval market at one end and modernday retailing at the other. Set in the historical grounds of the castle, the ‘living history’ market will offer traders’ stalls, with replica jewellery, clothing, toys, leather goods and many other fascinating items.

There is something quite magical about a hot air balloon floating majestically across the sky. But they are always frustratingly far away, the opportunity to get up close to one of these silent giants is relatively rare. Unless you live close to the Rhine. In June and August residents of Bonn, Düsseldorf and Cologne will have the unique opportunity to see hot air balloons up close, on the ground, up in the air and even take a ride in one, for around €170. In Bonn the 2010 Ballonfest takes place from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th June.

This weekend you can catch some of that "Big Band" sound at the Museums Mile on Bonn. The Big Band Festival kicks off on Friday 4th June and finishes on Saturday 5th June. After the success of last year's event the city of Bonn is running the competition again in 2010 and the line-up is looking good: from 3.30pm on Friday school bands from around the region will be showing what they can do and then at 4.30 Brassrock will take to the stage - the big-band from the Bonn/Bad Godesberg Gesamptschule - with some Blues and Rock classics.

Düsseldorf has one of the largest Japanese communities in Europe and to celebrate the city transforms itself into a 'little Japan on the Rhine' to honour its Japanese citizens.  On the 29th May you can experience some of the many facets of Japanese culture: Samurai and their magnificent armour, the wonderful arts of Origami, Ikebana and calligraphy, Japanese sports like Sumo, Judo and Karate, Manga fans dressed as their favourite cartoon characters and of course delicious Japanese cuisine.

The 8th of May is "Der Lange Nacht der Museen" (The Long Night of the Museums) in Düsseldorf, a night of culture that doesn't stop till 2am. This years theme is "Kunstzeit" (art-time) and you can take in 40 art galleries and museums all under cover of darkness.  As well as the current exhibitions you'll be able to take part in guided tours, workshops and see various performances, lectures, films, concerts and even some culinary delights.  The State parliament building will also be open and showing an exhibition about Russian artist Lev Kopelev.