Mainz, Germany, is due to celebrate its Johannisnacht Festival (St. John’s Night) in honor of native son Johannes Gutenberg through June 22. (emson)
It’s a happy occasion, tinged with sadness: the summer solstice occurs at precisely 10:24 a.m. on June 21, Central European Time. From that moment onward, the hours of sunlight will slowly but surely decrease and the dark days of winter will inevitably fall upon us. But for now, Europeans will be enjoying that singular time of year when summer rules the day and everything seems possible. There’s no shortage of places to celebrate this season of warmth and light.
Street party in Mainz: Mainz’s most famous native son, Johannes Gutenberg, is presumed to have been born on or about June 24, 1400. The birth of the inventor of the first printing press with movable type will be celebrated in proper fashion through June 22 as part of the city’s Johannisnacht festivities, the city’s biggest bash outside of its Fastnacht (carnival) celebrations. From Schillerplatz to the banks of the Rhine, visitors can shop for handicrafts or vintage books, ride on a Ferris wheel or even scarier contraptions, sample locally produced wines, watch in wonder as street artists perform their acts or listen to a wide variety of musicians perform across several stages. The baptism of the apprentices, in which those just entering professions having to do with the printed word or media in general are doused in wooden vats of water, starts at 4 p.m. on Saturday. A few concerts on this year’s program also stand out: at 9 p.m. Friday, a Metallica cover band plays on a stage set up at the Liebfrauenplatz, behind the cathedral; at 9 p.m. Saturday, a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band plays there. Festivities are brought to a close at 10:30 p.m. on Monday with a drone and light show. Entry to all events is free. Online: mainzer-johannisnacht.de
Alpine peaks in the Waxensteinkamm range are set ablaze with bonfires intended to resemble various shapes in an annual event, which is set to take place this year on the night of June 23, weather permitting. (iStock)
Fires in the mountains: Those in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Grainau can look forward to seeing the Alpine peaks surrounding them bathed in a particular kind of light, the Johannifeuer. As the sun sets on the evening of June 23, the peaks of the Waxensteinkamm range come alive with bonfires lit to appear in various shapes, often inspired by local lore or biblical references. As a small army of volunteers must first scale the peaks to set these fires alight, the event will understandably be postponed in the event of stormy weather. Online: tinyurl.com/573e6e3t
Just a short drive away, in the Zugspitz Arena in Austria, similar bonfires will be lit at 10 p.m. on June 20. In the event of inclement weather, the fires will take place on June 27 instead. Online: zugspitzarena.com/bergfeuer
Scandinavian-styled celebrations in Cologne: For Swedes and other inhabitants of Nordic lands, midsummer celebrations are amongst the most joyous fetes of the year; for a taste of how they celebrate without having to board a plane, make way to the grounds of the city’s Schokoladenmuseum, where a “Mittsommerfest” takes place through June 21. Music, traditional costumes, a crafts market, children’s play area and stalls selling treats such as plank-grilled salmon surround the event’s centerpiece: a tree which is gradually erected to its full height on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Visitors can lend a hand to the process of decorating it beforehand, or take part in a competition to see who wears the most beautiful wildflower crown. The event runs from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on all days, and entry is free (although entry to the Chocolate Museum itself is not). Online: mittsommer-koeln.de
Celebrate with music in France and beyond: Since 1982, France has welcomed the longest days of the year to the sound of music, particularly that performed by amateurs. Fearing that accessibility to concerts had become something only the elite could afford, the country’s culture minister at the time launched an idea in which communities would organize their own celebrations, inviting local musicians from all genres to take to the stage. The idea has since blossomed into a true summer highlight, not just in France but around the world. Although the official date of the annual “Fête de la Musique” is always June 21, some towns choose to celebrate on slightly different dates. Cities in proximity to U.S. military communities with events scheduled include Metz, Sarreguemines, Strasbourg and Wissembourg, with all celebrating on June 21 itself. Entry is free.
Some 150 cities and towns in Germany organize events around the Fête de la Musique principle as well. For an afternoon or evening full of music, make way to Bamberg (along the Sandstrasse, 4 p.m.); Koblenz (city center, 3 p.m.) or Oppenheim (market square and surroundings, 3 p.m.). Entry to all these events is free as well.
