Need another way to indulge your inner child? Make way to a Volksfest, an event that’s part fun fair, part market and part beer festival. Volksfests appeal to all ages: There are pony rides, bumper cars and stalls filled with random items, such as dental instruments and oddly flavored hard candies. Eat fried squid rings, quaff beer by the liter, dance on a table, get lost in the House of Mirrors or part with euros at an alarming pace at the many games of chance.
The spring editions of many a Volkfest are already nigh. Have a look at all the fun you could be having.
* Mainz: Fruehjahrsmesse, Rhine riverbanks between Kaisertor und Theodor-Heuss-Bruecke, March 26-April 10. http://tinyurl.com/zbzbwro
* Frankfurt: Dippemess, Ratsweg Festplatz (near the Eissporthalle), through April 10. www.dippemess.de
* Bayreuth: Fruehlingsfest, Aeussere Badstrasse,March 26-April 3. http://tinyurl.com/j39qctb
* Nuremberg: Fruehlingsvolksfest, Dutzendteich, March 26-April 10. www.volksfest-nuernberg.de
* Speyer: Fruehjahrsmesse, Festplatz,March 26-April 10. http://tinyurl.com/hwzj3qq
* Aachen: Oecher Bend, Bendplatz, March 26-April 11. www.oecherbend-ac.de
* Hannover: Fruehlingsfest, Schuetzenplatz, March 26-April 17. www.fruehlingsfest-hannover.de
* Augsburg: Augsburger Plaerrer, Plaerrergelaende, March 27-April 10. www.augsburgerplaerrer.de
* Wiesbaden: Fruehlingsfest, Elsaesser Platz, April 1-4. http://tinyurl.com/zavqe46
* Munich: Fruehlingfest, Theresienweise, April 15-May 1. www.fruehlingsfest-muenchen.com
* Stuttgart: Fruehlingsfest, Canstatter Wasen, April 16-May 8. http://stuttgarter-fruehlingsfest.de
* Pirmasens: Maimarkt, Messplatz, April 29-May 8. http://tinyurl.com/j6cn5pj
* Erlangen: Bergkirchweih, An den Kellern/Bergstraße, May 12-23.www.berch.info
* Regensburg: Mai Dult, Dultplatz, May 13-29. www.r-dult.de
* Kaiserslautern: Lautrer Kerwe, Messplatz, May 20-30. www.kerwe-kl.de
* Bielefeld: Leineweber Markt, May 25-29. www.bielefeld.jetzt/tipp/leinewebermarkt
* Frankenthal: Strohhutfest, May 26-29. http://tinyurl.com/jyxgmlu
* Karlsruhe, Karlsruher Mess’, Messplatz, May 29-June 8. www.karlsruhe.de/b3/maerkte/mess
