Final Tally for the 2014 Maschsee Festival: 2 million guests attended the Maschsee Festival (August 17, 2014)

With mostly good weather—featuring temperatures that were at times midsummer-like but at other times autumnal—the international cuisine, time-honored culinary offerings, stage and cabaret performances, and water-based activities were all very well received overall. In addition to the weekends, which drew up to half a million guests, the weekdays also saw particularly high attendance: On Wednesday, August 6, for example, more than 130,000 guests attended. As a result, Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH (HVG), the event organizer, was able to establish the Maschseefest as a popular gathering place even during the week.

 “We are pleased with how well the festival went and with the many satisfied guests from near and far. For many (day) tourists, the Maschseefest was an opportunity to visit and discover the Hannover vacation region—and it once again attracted nationwide attention,” says Hans Christian Nolte, managing director of the HVG.

The Maschsee Festival is well-known and popular even beyond the borders of Hanover: Visitors now come from as far afield as the North Sea coast and as far south as Kassel and Bielefeld. In addition, the festival has welcomed numerous international guests, such as those from the Netherlands.

Thanks to a wide range of daily reports by local and national media partners, public awareness of the event was significantly boosted. In addition, NDR television and the radio stations ffn, Antenne Niedersachsen, Radio 21, NDR1, Radio Hannover, and 89.0 RTL provided nationwide coverage.

Thanks to its international cuisine, this year’s Maschseefest stood out from other events—and became a truly special experience. From sushi by the lake to culinary offerings with a Caribbean flair and a Moroccan hidden gem—guests were able to feast their way around the globe and were generally pleasantly surprised by the traditional specialties of various cultures. But tried-and-true classics like bratwurst and crêpes were also available—the Maschseefest offered culinary delights for every taste.

Entertainment was provided by 110 musical acts from around the world, with more than 160 shows, and 30 DJs with about 70 performances. Among the special crowd favorites were Marquess, Gunter Gabriel, and Micki Krause—but longtime regulars such as Terry Hoax and Lotto King Karl, who drew more than 2,000 visitors to the Löwenbastion, were also back in the mix. The weekend program organized by the three local radio stations—ffn, Antenne Niedersachsen, and Radio 21—was also very well received: the shows and band performances they organized drew thousands of visitors to the north shore. NDR1, 89.0 RTL, and Radio Hannover provided additional informative coverage.

The world’s tallest active observation tower, at 81 meters, offered spectacular views: The Maschsee Skyliner, now located in front of the HDI Arena, attracted several thousand visitors who came to enjoy an impressive view of the Maschseefest and the Hanover region.

Participants and spectators were particularly thrilled by the events on Lake Maschsee: 15 teams of students from Hanover competed for the coveted victory in the “Red Bull Student Boat Battle.” On August 9, more than 100 illuminated torch swimmers entered the water, creating a magical atmosphere. The “Crazy Crossing,” organized for the 16th time by Antenne Niedersachsen, was also a resounding success: The crazy boat race captivated audiences and participants alike. Last weekend, more than 5,000 rubber ducks were sent racing in the “NKR Duck Fun(d)racing.”

All of the “üstralala”’s trips were once again completely sold out this year—and a significant anniversary was celebrated: Four-year-old Matilda disembarked on Tuesday, August 12, as the 5,000th Maschsee pirate. An exciting children’s program was offered at the well-attended children’s area near the HDI Arena: Whether during Pirate Weekend, the performances of the GOP musical “Three Hazelnuts for Cinderella,” or the numerous hands-on activities—thanks to the recreation and experiential educators from Xiè-Xiè, the program was both entertaining and educational.

From laid-back jazz on Sundays to “Dancing by the Lake” presented by the Bothe Dance Schools, walking acts, and street performers like Andy Snatch with his original juggling act, all the way to sailors’ choirs, pirate shows, and exotic drum groups—the Maschseefest featured a mix of loud and soft sounds, ensuring there was something to suit every taste.

Most visitors to the Maschsee Festival found out about the program via the website www.maschseefest.de, which, with approximately 1.7 million page views, was used even more extensively than last year. With over 31,000 fans, the Maschsee Festival’s Facebook page is further evidence of the lake festival’s popularity.

The positive feedback from the local hotel and restaurant industries and downtown businesses underscores the growing national significance of the Maschsee Festival in terms of tourism and the economy.

“The Maschsee Festival is increasingly becoming a positive image booster for the Hanover region and showcases the quality and international character of Hanover’s culinary scene. There was truly something for everyone—and this diversity resonates with the guests. Many of them have visited the lake multiple times and have often promoted the festival among their friends and acquaintances, acting, in a sense, as ambassadors for Hanover,” Nolte summarizes.

The next Maschsee Festival kicks off on July 29, 2015. From then until August 16, the festival will once again delight visitors with culinary, musical, and artistic highlights.