Festivals and open air

Sensory pleasure deluxe

Over a cup of tea, with some handwritten notes on my wild desk, with my ‘task’ of feeling my way into a festival feeling to give you a little inspiration, I realise one thing: when I write about Aachen, my city, I always associate feelings and experiences with the senses. Seeing, tasting, smelling and hearing.  Isn't ‘hearing’ already at the heart of this blog post? Listening to the sound of music!  

‘Ah, music,’ he said, wiping his eyes. ‘A magic that eclipses everything we do here. ‘*  
Festivals and open-air concerts spark magical moments, hearts beat to the beat of the music. Dancing, singing and laughing become one, allowing everyday life - and sometimes even a few drops of rain - to fade into the background for a few hours or days.
A state worth seeing, isn't it?  

Aachen goes out! Aachen goes out!
And at its finest, because Aachen and the surrounding area offer a multi-faceted repertoire of ‘musical sensory delights’. Oh, how I would love to dance at all the festivals, to feel the moment.

Feel the spirit of the border triangle
Isn't it wonderful to be able to enjoy such an exposed geographical location? The ‘border triangle’ of Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium offers so many wonderful things such as interesting places and cities, beautiful nature, culinary delights and interesting cultural highlights. In addition to a wide variety of museums and theatre (events), we also find musical events and open-air concerts, as well as festivals.

 

 

My personal tips for the ‘festival season’

Eupen Music Marathon
The Eupen Music Marathon kicks off the season in the border triangle. The 25th and 26th of May are dedicated to Belgian and international artists. With free admission, visitors can enjoy listening to and experiencing all genres such as rock, pop, electro, classical, world music, jazz, blues and children's music on various stages in the centre of Eupen. Stroll through the city centre, have a drink and let yourself drift. Perfect for families too! A holiday feeling is definitely the order of the day there, because in Belgium we sense a completely different - slightly French-influenced - atmosphere.
www.eupenmusikmarathon.be

 

Klingwiese
For the youngest among us music lovers, for those with open mouths and wide eyes, the ‘Klingwiese’ will take place again on 2 June. A festival at Frankenberg Castle with sound installations, puppet theatre, baby music and lots of other wonderful things - such as a sound street.
www.klingwiese.de

Kimiko Festival

© Kimiko / Chiara Baluch

‘Isle of Campus’, the legendary “Kimiko Festival” attracts music enthusiasts of all ages to the RWTH Campus Melaten from 14 to 16 June. Three days from morning to night. Hip-hop, punk, house, R&B, trap, rap, indie pop... and many more musical genres under the motto ‘Celebrating the culture of tomorrow’. Here we feel the vibes of music as a force for exchange, innovation and ideas in particular. Pure festival feeling, where you can drift along on the wave. Food, drinks, several stages.
www.kimiko-festival.de

Pink Pop

Festival

‘Pink Pop’ in Landgraaf (Netherlands) means three days, from 21 to 23 June, of the finest festival, as it is taking place for more than fifty years. Unbelievable. Sounds like a must to experience Pink Pop. With four campsites, four stages, food and drinks, a cultural and educational mission, Pink Pop provides a stage for ‘living’ in the flow of the festival. Newcomers, well-known artists, a wild mix of musical genres. Ed Sheeran, Avril Lavigne and Calvin Harris, among others, will be on stage to provide moments of happiness.
www.pinkpop.nl/en

Lothringair 

© Christian van't Hoen / birdsonaplane.de

The ‘Lothringair’ will transform an entire street, Lothringer Straße, into a festival of delights for the ninth time on 22 June. Hear, see, taste and smell. Colourful hustle and bustle for young and old. Sunshine - would be perfect. ‘A street makes culture’ and we experience this part of Aachen's city centre as a grandiose art event. Music, theatre, food, drinks and shared experiences are at the top of the list.
www.lothringair.de

Kurpark Classic 

At the ‘Kurpark Classix’ from 22 to 26 August, we will experience open-air concerts of a special kind in the beautiful ambience of Aachen's Kurgarten on Monheimsallee.  Every year, the Aachen Symphony Orchestra invites the audience to experience classical music, rock and pop as a new interpretation, to immerse themselves in the acoustic worlds of the mix of symphony and the respective genre. This summer we can look forward to Jan Delay, Querbeat and Michael Patrick Kelly! For years, the Night at the Opera, Classix for Kids and the Last Night have always been a pleasure, and for me the special thing about the Kurpark Classix is the ambience of the Kurpark with its history, the stage with the symphony orchestra, the music envelops you, just like the nature in which you sit. At some concerts, picnics are allowed on the meadows to the side of the grandstand and everyone can indulge in the sensory intoxication of fine delicacies as well as listening to the music. Everyone can enjoy the moment as they wish. 
www.kurparkclassix.de

Throw yourselves into the moments of musical enjoyment! I'm sure there's ‘the’ highlight for every taste and every age. Everyone as they like it, as they feel it, as they enjoy it! Here's to a relaxed and peaceful time together, to a shared immersion in the world of listening, accompanied by many other sensory experiences.  

‘Ah, music,’ he said, wiping his eyes. ‘A magic that puts everything we do here in the shade. ‘* 
I love my Aachen!

*Albus Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone