France’s Alsace region is an easy weekend destination for those in southwest Germany. With a full calendar of cultural events slated for August, what better time to cross the border? A sampling of events:
• Colmar’s Fair of Alsace Wines runs Aug. 3-15 (closed Aug. 9) at the city’s Parc Expo. Roughly 350 exhibitors show off their wares in this fair and festival geared toward both casual visitors and wine professionals.
The fair is open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. (from 5 p.m. Aug. 3). Adult admission is 2 to 6 euros, depending on the time of day. Entrance for children up to age 12 costs 1 euro.
Several concerts are offered in conjunction with the fair. Artists include Nightwish, Within Temptation, Sharon Corr, Iggy & The Stooges, Sean Paul, Gossip, and others. Tickets are sold separately starting at 33 euros.
See www.foire-colmar.com (French and German).
• Sélestat's Corso Fleuri, or flower parade, is the place to be for those partial to dahlias. About 500,000 of that type of flower and plenty of others will be featured at the event Aug. 11 at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Admission to the parade area costs 7 euros; children younger than 12 enter free. On Aug. 12, the town remains festive with a market, folk music and jazz concerts. Read more at www.corso-fleuri.fr (French only).
• Marlenheim's Le Mariage de l’Ami Fritz will keep old traditions alive wbased on a tale from a novel penned in a nearby region. The wedding is celebrated as it would have been at the end of the 19th century, with costumes, dancing, folklore and parades. Festivities take place Aug. 14-15. Details (French only) at mariage-ami-fritz.fr.
• Haguenau's Festival du Hoblon is dedicated to hops Aug. 21-26. Dance is emphasized at the fest, and its motto, “Rhythms and Colors of the World,” is backed up by 500 musicians and dancers from five continents. This year, Latin American culture is in the spotlight. Learn more (in French and German) at www.festivalduhoublon.eu/fr.
