Midway Report: Over 1.1 million visitors so far at the 2015 Maschseefest in Hanover

The unique atmosphere of the pop-up restaurants and bars drew guests from all over Germany as the weather continued to improve.

The plane is preparing for a stopover; it has already covered half the journey. Along the way, visitors were able to enjoy performances by around 60 musicians on the four stages of Lower Saxony’s largest folk festival. The lineup included live acts such as the UK legend New Model Army, the UNESCO City of Music band Voodoo Sound Club, Johannes Oerding, and The Keltics with their Irish folk music. Classics like Lotto King Karl & Die Barmbeck Dreamboys, Gunter Gabriel, and Torfrock created a lively atmosphere by the lake. In addition, this year’s Maschseefest has so far featured over 30 DJ sets and around 25 performances by street performers, who kept the crowd entertained.

The play and adventure area on the children’s lawn, as well as other play facilities along the lake, delighted numerous young visitors. The staff from the Pavillon Cultural Center and its partner Xiè-Xiè are very pleased and report that children from Berlin are traveling all the way to Hannover to visit their grandparents just so they can sign on as pirates aboard the popular pirate ship “üstralala.” Due to the high level of interest, previous pirate voyages sold out in no time—and the upcoming ones are already fully booked.
Awareness of the Maschsee Festival has spread throughout Germany this year—thanks to extensive coverage by regional media, but increasingly also by the national press. The popularity of Lower Saxony’s largest folk festival is underscored by over 1.2 million page views on the website www.maschseefest.de and approximately 40,000 fans on Facebook.

Festival organizer Hans Christian Nolte, managing director of Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH, is very satisfied with how the first half of the festival has gone, praises the smooth organization, and expects more than 150,000 guests tonight as well, weather permitting. “The Maschseefest has now become a showcase for Hannover’s hospitality and festive spirit. We’re looking forward to a great second half of the festival with many pleasant encounters and plenty of vacation vibes by the lake,” says Nolte.

Now we’re off on the second leg of our world tour, which once again features unique musical acts, exhilarating lake activities, and a diverse array of international cuisine.
The second festival weekend also has some highlights in store: The 1st Brewers’ Festival, featuring breweries from Hanover, will take place from Friday through Sunday at the Löwenbastion. On Saturday evening, 100 divers from all over Lower Saxony will dive into the lake to transform it into a romantic sea of lights during the traditional torchlight swim. Antenne Niedersachsen will provide the perfect finale to an eventful (family) weekend with the traditional “Crazy Crossing” fun boat race on Sunday, August 9.
The stage program also offers numerous highlights during the final week of the festival: On the Maschsee Stage, US singer-songwriter Jesse Ives (August 12), The Jetlags (August 15), and the UNESCO City of Music band Choni Cia (August 16), among others, will captivate the audience. At the Löwenbastion, Terry Hoax (August 14) brings rock from Hanover, and the lineup also features classics like Sweety Glitter & The Sweethearts (August 16). The Irish vibe continues at the Temple Bar with Jamie Clarke’s Perfect (August 8) and the folk band The Cobblestones (August 9). The stage at the Maschsee Spring features exciting cover bands like The Beatles Connection (Aug. 12) and Buddy & The Cruisers (Aug. 16), who bring the golden ’50s back to life.
The 30th Maschseefest will come to a spectacular close on the festival’s final evening: In keeping with the anniversary, a breathtaking fireworks display will be set off on August 16 at around 10 p.m. to celebrate Lower Saxony’s largest folk festival in style.
For more information on the 2015 Maschseefest and the complete program, visit www.maschseefest.de.
Photos for editorial use can be found at www.hannover.de/maschseefest/presse. Those
who would like to combine a visit to the Maschseefest with a stay in Hanover can find more information at www.visit-hannover.com. The experience package for the 2015 Maschseefest can be booked at www.hannover.de/maschseefest/erlebnispakete.

Published: August 7, 2015