The 2023 Maschsee Festival Has Begun

With around 100 culinary offerings—ranging from regional specialties to international delicacies—and the most extensive stage and music program in the history of the Maschsee Festival, there’s guaranteed to be something for everyone. More than two million visitors are expected to attend Hanover’s summer highlight. 

The 36th Maschsee Festival kicked off with a great atmosphere! The weather: cloudy, but dry. At 5:57 p.m., host Hans Christian Nolte, managing director of Hannover
Veranstaltungs GmbH (HVG), and Hannover’s Mayor Belit Onay officially opened this year’s Maschseefest on the north shore. In front of numerous guests and surrounded by colorful stilt walkers, acrobats, and musicians, they symbolically cut the red opening ribbon

Hanover’s Mayor Belit Onay: “We’re proud that it’s finally getting underway. The Maschseefest has become an indispensable part of the event calendar for the people of Hanover as well as for international guests. There’s great anticipation for the next 19 days.” “Due to the COVID-19 crisis and the war in Ukraine, conditions last year were not easy. Now we’re building on the successful relaunch in the exceptional year of 2022 and returning to our usual strength. The 2023 Maschseefest stands as Germany’s undisputed number-one food festival, featuring the largest entertainment program we’ve ever had. We’re setting the standard for Germany’s festival culture,” says Hans Nolte. 

“A Gourmet’s Paradise”: Oases of culinary delight spanning approximately 20,000 square meters—a culinary journey around the world, from the Moselle wine region to Mexico

The culinary offerings are one of the festival’s highlights and live up to the accolades they’ve received from gourmet experts. International cuisine—ranging from Middle Eastern to Mexican, Asian, Scandinavian, and Hanseatic—exclusive, exotic, home-style, and “on the go”—the variety of culinary delights is simply immeasurable at Hannover’s Seefest. 
In total, more than 100 food stands entice visitors with delicacies. For example, guests can sample regional dishes and beverages from the Moselle wine region at the new Stein Wein Mosel wine tavern on the Geibel, or feast on tacos, steaks, and the best burgers at Tulum on the north shore. The Bährenstarke Leuchtturmeck, with its striking lighthouse, serves beer and grilled specialties, while the atmospheric Al-Dar, an “Oriental oasis,” serves Syrian cuisine (both on the north shore).
Strandwärts on the east bank entices visitors with an exciting menu (e.g., spaghetti with chanterelles or pak choi with vegan duck) and refreshing cocktails in a lounge-like atmosphere. 
The Pier Garten (on the east bank) entices visitors with long drinks and sweeping views of the water.
And at the Food Village on the west and east banks, you can grab all kinds of specialties—from fish sandwiches to fries—to fuel your day on the go.

The Maschseefest is one of the top ten food festivals in Europe 

The Maschseefest in Hanover was ranked 9th among the best summer festivals for connoisseurs in 2022 by the international travel portal “Big 7 Travel.” It is the only festival in Germany to make the top ten on the list. The experts described it as a “paradise for foodies.” “This award once again raises the Maschseefest’s international profile, which is a great honor for everyone involved,” emphasizes the HVG director.

More than 4,000 seats; table reservations available

Many restaurants around Lake Maschsee are offering exclusive events—such as winemaker evenings, tastings, Sunday brunches, and special themed evenings—during the 19-day festival.
Reservations can be made here:

© HVG

Once around the world

Table reservation for the Maschseefest

Your personal place by the water - you can reserve your table here.

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About 200 music and entertainment acts, all outdoors and free of charge

This year’s Maschseefest features a vibrant stage program that is more extensive than anything seen before in the festival’s history. Up-and-coming stars, cover bands, shanty choirs, DJs, Irish folk music, chill-out sounds—a wide variety of musical waves will wash over the venues all around the lake. You can find the complete program at www.maschseefest.de
. There will also be wine tastings, cocktail evenings, club nights, boat rides, beach parties, relaxation areas, bustling promenades, and much more—all in the heart of Hanover.

A Date with a Star: The Maschsee Takes Center Stage

 No other body of water can hold a candle to the Maschsee—especially during the festival—it’s the star of the summer. A sunset beneath palm trees, surrounded by nature right by the water with a view of the urban skyline of Lower Saxony’s capital—it’s truly one-of-a-kind. During the day, you can enjoy a sightseeing cruise on one of the boats in the ÜSTRA Maschsee fleet; in the evening, you can gaze romantically at the starry sky. 

Floating Stars: The NRK Duck Race

The lake will once again take center stage this past weekend. At the 12th Duck Race organized by the North German Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Donor Registry (NKR), 100 Big Ducks and 5,000 small Race Ducks will take to the water for a good cause on August 12 at 4:00 p.m. Voting for the most beautiful Big Duck is open until August 8. The Race Ducks can be adopted for a donation of 5 euros.
For more information, visit www.maschseefest.de/programm

Kinderwiese: FerienCard Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary at the Maschseefest — Offer for Families Extended to 18 Days

This year, the large children’s play area in front of the Heinz von Heiden Arena invites kids to climb, do crafts, run around, and get their faces painted from 2 to 7 p.m. daily, with an expanded lineup of activities. The highlight of the event is the colorful 50th-anniversary celebration of the FerienCard, which will be marked with a huge festival from August 11 to 18. 

The popular “üstralala” is also setting sail again with its pirates. Tickets are available exclusively for cash payment and only at ÜSTRA Reisen GmbH, Nordmannpassage 6, 30159 Hannover. For more information about the children’s program, visit www.maschseefest.de/programm

Getting There and Back: Tips on Travel and Parking 

The HVG recommends traveling by public transportation. Specifically for the Maschsee Festival, ÜSTRA’s special bus line 267 runs between the Kröpcke stop and the beach. The circular line 100/200 and line 800 also serve the Maschsee stops. A map of the area is available at www.maschseefest.de. The “49-Euro-Ticket” is also valid on ÜSTRA buses and trains. The MOIA ride-sharing service also offers additional pickup points around the Maschsee, which can be viewed in the app. The Schützenplatz is available as an additional parking lot
for the entire duration of the Maschseefest; the daily fee is five euros. Tip: Use the NUNAV app to avoid traffic jams!

In addition to numerous bicycle parking spaces, there will be a permanent bike path along Rudolf-von-Bennigsen-Ufer. The existing bike path directly along the Maschsee will be “taken out of service.” E-scooters can be parked in a central parking area near the western end of Planckstraße.

Experience Package - Overnight Stay Offer 

For anyone who’d like to combine the Maschsee Festival with a short trip to Hanover, Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH (HMTG) offers a special experience package as well as a discounted group rate. For more information, visit www.maschseefest.de

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