The "Erlanger Bergkirchweih" and other fairs and festivals
When the city councils of the municipalities decided on 21st April 1755, to relocate the traditional Pfingstmarkt (fair on pentacost) from the old town market up to the Burgberg (castle hill), they could hardly imagine what a significant decision they had made. This decision was the birthday of the Erlanger Bergkirchweih, a beer festival, which is now being celebrated for more than 250 years every year for 12 days around Pentecost.
When the Lord Mayor of Erlangen taps on the first beer barrel on Thursday 8 May 2008 exactly at 5 pm and opens herewith the fifth season, the Huguenot city will expext until Monday, 19 May 2008, more than one million visitors from near and far. Under the splendid old, chestnut trees decorated with Chinese lanterns, the thirsty festival guests can enjoy cool beer out of steins. Franconian dishes, like fried sausages or the wellknown Breze (pretzel), will be served as well as many international dishes, as Langos or Döner.
Under the symbol of the Erlanger Bergkirchweih, the biggest portable Ferris wheel in Europe, the carnies present more than forty rides and carousels, from traditional to high-tech, and many in lottery booths, shooting galleries and sales booths.
Already more than 250 years ago the cellars of Erlanger
Castle Hill were used by the local breweries to store their beer, so that even in the summer months it was always cool and fresh. Until the invention of refrigeration machine by Linde the local breweries benefited of this unique locational advantage
explained the fame as the No.1 city of export beer even before Munich and Kulmbach. Not only Karl May praised the excellent quality of Erlanger beer in a book, even today the term "Erlanger" is a quality determination in the United States.
The Bergkirchweih lasts from 8 To 19 May 2008 and is open daily from 10 am to 11 pm. On Sundays and public holidays, the visitors can have the traditional brunch at 9:30 am. And even after 11 pm Erlangen does not rest, then the party will go on on in pubs and restaurants in the downtown of Erlangen.