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As we give thanks for our many blessings collectively and as a nation, the image of a table heaving with turkey and all the trimmings and a gathering of friends and family comes to mind. In addition to this treasured holiday, Germany will be back on track with hosting some of its favorite November events. Here’s a tasting of how your free time around Thanksgiving could possibly unfold in various parts of Germany:
Stuttgart area: At the sprawling fairground complex known as the Stuttgarter Messe, a traveling culinary event known as eat & style lands for its three-day run Nov. 18 to 21. The event bills itself as Germany’s biggest food festivaland offers an expo of kitchen gadgets, cookery shows, food trucks and much else to make a gourmet’s heart beat faster.
The food fest isn’t all that’s happening over at the Messe. Crafty types will love the inspiration provided by the hundreds of exhibitors at Kreativ, a fair for artists, quilters, seamstresses and all others who love to work with their hands.
Other smaller fairs under the umbrella of the Stuttgarter Messe Herbst will also take place, with focuses on games, shopping and yoga.
Munich: The Tollwood Winter Festival kicks off its opening season Nov. 24. This event on the Theresienweise is many things at once: An "alternative Christmas market," it's a venue for shows and exhibition space for ideas promoting the concepts of rational use of the planet’s limited resources and intercultural understanding. For some of what’s on, you’ll need a ticket, but there’s plenty to see and do without paying a penny. Check out what’s scheduled on opening day.
Cologne: Love art? Even if your pockets aren’t quite deep enough to afford your favorite artist’s works, you can admire all that’s on offer at Cologne Fine Art from Nov. 17 to 21. In terms of art fairs, this one is among the cream of the crop. Exhibits from around the world cover three millennia of art and cultural history. In addition to the paintings and sculptures, other pretty things to admire here include rare jewelry, luxurious porcelain, and high-quality pieces from the Baroque and Biedermeier periods.
