Werder Tree Blossom Festival
Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to attend this year's event, which runs until 3 May.
April 28th, 2015Alice White - Yes, we know about the annual flower-budding festival in Washington D.C., but have you ever considered jaunting across the pond to Germany for your foliage fix? April to early May, when the fruit tree blossom is at its peak, a small town west of Potsdam hosts an internationally recognised blossom event. This weekend marked the beginning of the 136th annual Tree Blossom Festival in Werder. It’s one of Germany’s largest folk festivals and brings a hive of activity to the otherwise tranquil town. Local orchards open to the public, inviting visitors to sample a variety of home-produced fruit wines and juices.
Festival organizer Christian Grosse told regional broadcaster RBB that the emphasis was on creating a homely and welcoming atmosphere. At Werder, visitors don’t need to worry about any wrangling for seats, as may be the case at the much larger Munich Oktoberfest for instance! Here, people choose a spot on the grass and sip their wine in the beautiful surroundings of the blossoming cherry, apple and plum trees.
For those eager to explore, there are 200 fruit wine stalls, eight stages and some 50 fairground rides to choose from. Last year, some half a million people attended the festival on the Havel River.
The event has put this small town west of Potsdam on the international festival-goers' map. For nine days, around 400 stalls, eight stages and some 50 fairground rides create a wonderful atmosphere in the idyllic old quarter on the Havel Island, and visitors can enjoy the beautiful blossom, orchards and fruit farms that open specially for the occasion.
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