Lots for the soul! - Der Oberharz

MAY
Every Thursday from 1 May until 30 October
the popular Upper Harz Mountain
Farmers' Market takes place on Bornhardtstrasse
in Clausthal with many specialities
of the region, arts and crafts and
lively goings-on.
Since 2009 the Harz Roller Festival, the
subject of which are the canary bird and
the famous cheese, has had a fi xed place
on the event calendar in Sankt Andreasberg.
On 15 May the second festival of
this type awaits you all around the Harz
Roller Canary Museum. Just two days
prior to it, one should not miss the Harz
Mountain Farmers' Festival.
And fi nally, on 16 May your outing destination
should be the famous Upper Harz
Mountains Mining Museum, because on
the International Day of the Museum this
exciting Museum takes part with varied
offerings. On Whitsun the famous and
traditional driving of the cattle to pasture
takes place in Wildemann with a colourful
programme – one of the major highlights
of the year.
On top of this, May is geared to mountain
biking in the Upper Harz Mountains,
because the MTB CUP is held annually
in Altenau. On the weekends prior to the
event, mountain bikers can also participate
in several guided training workouts on the
actual MTB marathon route.
May concludes with Nature Protection
Day on the 29th and the ceremonies for
the day of the death of Robert Koch, the
most famous son of the mining town of
Clausthal-Zellerfeld.
JUNE
While Clausthal-Zellerfeld holds another
sporting highlight, the Lower Saxon
Summer Biathlon Championships, on
13 June Sankt Andreasberg celebrates
the Meadow Flower Festival, a traditional
event to do with the famous and
protected mountain meadows and their
herbs, all accompanied by the driving of
the cattle out to pasture. This is a colourful
and absorbing festival full of regional
culture. The local communities also celebrate
the traditional Johannisfest, a
midsummer festival, on 24 June with lots
of music. From 19 Jun until 18 Jul you are
invited to attend the MARUNDE Exhibition
in Sankt Andreasberg.
JULY
In mid-July compete with other guests and
locals in the comical "Kräuterolympiade"
["Herbs Olympics"] in Altenau, the location
of Europe's largest herb park, before
the Schützenfest [Marksmen's Festival] in
Altenau brings together locals and holidaymakers.
2010 is the 100th anniversary of the mining
of the last ton of ore in the Samson Pit.
From 2-4 July a number of special events
also take place in Sankt Andreasberg.
AUGUST
Things continue in a traditional vein in late
summer, fi rst with the Yodelling Competition
in the health resort gardens in Clausthal-Zellerfeld
(1 Aug) as well as Vieh- und Weidetag
[Cattle and Pasture Day] in Buntenbock
with lots of colourful offerings and the Lichterfest
[Festival of Lights] in the Okerteich
Forest Swimming Pool in Altenau (7 Aug).
The month begins with the Marksmen's Fe-
stival Parade in Sankt Andreasberg (1 Aug),
the 2nd ADAC Sidecar Driver Meet-up and
Spechtelnacht, an observatory event on 6-8
August. The month then concludes with the
big Schützenfest [Marksmen's Festival] in
the tranquil little town of Buntenbock.
SEPTEMBER
This month is all about Hubertus, the
patron saint of hunters, bellowing stags
and art. From 11 until 19 September the
14th Altenauer Hubertus Week will take
place in Altenau. Here everything revolves
round stags and the fl ora and fauna of the
Harz Mountains National Park. In Sankt
Andreasberg the Kunstherbst [Autumn of
Art] begins in Sankt Andreasberg at the
Rathausscheune as well as at other event
locations with international artists covering
all aspects of the theme of "Child of
Nature". On 25 and 26 September all nature
lovers with a fervour to discover are
attracted to Clausthal with its big Harz
Mountains Minerals and Fossils Market.
OCTOBER
By now at the latest the forest up here has
exploded into a true fi reworks of colour, inspiring
not only artists but also holidaymakers
into all sorts of creativity and intellectual
exchange. On 10 October in Wildemann all
hiking enthusiasts meet up for the German-
Danish Hiking day, to which numerous
guests from the High North are expected in
the Harz Mountains.
NOVEMBER
Christmas feelings can already be felt
earlier on here, because often the winter
will already have set in. The landscape
becomes shrouded in a vast white blanket,
magically creating wonderful settings
against a radiant blue, the fi rst Christmas
feelings awakening in the evenings with
the glistening and the lights. Now is the
time for relaxation, savouring and peace
and quiet. Go to our beautiful restaurants,
cosy accommodations and the temples
of well-being, such as KRISTALL "Heißer
Brocken", a thermal spa in Altenau. At the
end of the month the fi rst Christmas markets
beckon, such as in Sankt Andreasberg,
with lots of romantic spirit.
DECEMBER
This should not be missed!
The Stag Call Championships
on 25 Sep 2010
in Sankt Andreasberg
Snow and sun aplenty will hopefully be
the line-up again this year. Take advantage
of the healthy climate of the Upper
Harz Mountains, the luxuriant natural surroundings
and the large offering of winter
sports, and come to us even before the
Christmas holidays. The transport links are
excellent, and the winter fun very good
even for a day trip. One should defi nitely
schedule a visit to one of the most beautiful
Christmas markets in the region, in
Goslar. Those who then want to spend
their Christmas or New Year's holidays
with us should make use of this magazine
and book reservations for accommodations
as early as possible.
For online reservations and current information
about the events, go to
www.oberharz.de
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