Maschsee Festival 2017: Take some time to travel around the world!

Let your gaze wander across Lake Masch, enjoy international food and drinks right on the water, and experience musical highlights under the open sky—it’s guaranteed to put you in a vacation mood. Fun and active events on Lake Masch, along with a variety of attractions for children and families, round out the program and create a vacation atmosphere and a sense of relaxation right in the heart of the city.

“I am particularly pleased that the Maschseefest—arguably the largest open-air party in northern Germany—is also increasingly serving as a platform for corporate events, business meetings, and employee gatherings. It’s a unique opportunity to get to know Hannover from a new perspective—business and leisure come together right in the heart of the city,” says Hans Christian Nolte, managing director of Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH (HVG).

© Kevin Münkel

Gastronomy
To the west, the RADIO 21 Lounge offers a fantastic view across the lake. Here, right on the water’s edge, you can watch the hustle and bustle on the north shore while enjoying a cool drink. At “Maschsee meets Spain,” guests are transported straight to the Mediterranean with paella and Spanish tapas. From the SeeBiergarten and Bolero Island, the journey continues to the north shore: The Maschsee Pavillon by ROBINSON is the ideal spot for cocktails and long drinks with a panoramic view. The Tiroler Seehaus offers a taste of the mountains with Kässpatzn, Schupfnudeln, and Backschinken. Yukon Forest serves Canadian classics like flambéed salmon and steaks from the rotisserie grill. At “Welcome to Miami,” American classics like hot dogs and burgers take center stage, while next door at the “Bähren-Starken” Leuchtturm-Eck, German grill specialties are on the menu. The culinary journey continues southward: Capetown delights visitors’ senses with exotic African dishes, and the Aresto restaurant offers winemaker’s days and a variety of Mediterranean meat and fish specialties. At the Hellebardier, the Su-shin Bar provides plenty of vacation flair with sushi and many other delicacies from Asian cuisine. Fish and meat dishes take center stage at the Sylt Lounge & Madsack See-Salon.

© HMTG / Kevin Münkel

On Rudolf-von-Bennigsen-Ufer, San Francisco treats visitors to street food pizza and pulled pork burgers. Those looking to soak up some maritime flair will be in good hands at Hamborger Veermaster, which serves authentic Hamburg Labskaus, or at Sylt am Geibel, known for its seafood specialties. New on the east shore (near Geibelstraße) is the See-Wirtschaft: Here, the menu features ribs, bread rolls, and a variety of snacks. Things take a French turn at Clichy: At a newly designed stand, visitors can embark on a culinary journey through France. Need a quick break on your walk around the lake? Pier 51 offers relaxation under the motto “Small but Nice.” In the Pier Garden, visitors can unwind with local beers and BBQ, and the restaurant features not only an à la carte menu but also a special surprise menu for two. At Pier Island, about 150 meters south of Pier 51, an open-air staircase is being built where you can enjoy delicious cocktails and wines while lounging in a deck chair.

The next highlight on the agenda is the new Löwenbastion: Healthy Food made by Dean & David, Rocky Lobster, Vapiano, and many other dining options can be found here. At the Maschsee South Pier, The Wild Geese spreads Irish cheer and invites visitors to enjoy Irish music and traditional Irish food and drinks.

The tour continues to the exclusive restaurants at the Inselterrassen, which delight the palate with French-Mediterranean cuisine. At the Maschsee spring, visitors can once again look forward to meat, fish, and salad specialties.

The newly redesigned West and East Food Courts also offer a wide variety of culinary options. For example, the menus feature Vietnamese specialties, Italian panini, Moroccan falafel, Swabian Dinnede, and French crêpes.

Reservations can be made at www.maschseefest.de/tischreservierung. From Monday through Saturday, regular hours begin at 2 p.m.; on Sundays, they start at 11 a.m. Some stalls also offer lunch during the week.

Music
Program After a culinary stroll around Lake Maschsee, an artistic journey around the world awaits: On the Maschsee Stage on the north shore, as well as on the stages at the new Löwenbastion and the Maschsee Spring, visitors can look forward to a wide variety of concert highlights—featuring national and international singers and musicians. All concerts are free for visitors!

During the three festival weekends, the radio stations radio ffn, Antenne Niedersachsen, and RADIO 21 will once again take the stage on the north shore. As is tradition, the ffn hosts will kick things off and keep Hannover entertained through the first two summer nights at the Maschsee. With Lions Head (Aug. 4) and Mighty Oaks (Aug. 5), two absolute megastars will take the stage. On the second festival weekend, Antenne Niedersachsen will take the Maschsee stage with comedian Matze Knop (August 12). On Sunday, August 13, at 3:00 p.m., the Bahlsen “Crazy Crossing” fun boat race will kick off, with commentary provided by the Antenne Niedersachsen hosts. On the third weekend, RADIO 21 will present the Bon Jovi tribute band BOUNCE (August 18), as well as Beyond Music and Goldplay—a Coldplay cover band—on Saturday (August 19). For the first time this year, 89.0 RTL will take the reins on Wednesdays at the Maschsee stage on the north shore with its resident DJs Stevie T. and Marc Radix.

© 89.0 RTL

On the other days of the festival, Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH (HVG), in cooperation with the Pavillon Cultural Center, will present a colorful mix of international and local artists and bands on the Maschsee Stage. Hagelslag (jazz, soul, funk & groove, Aug. 6), Juliano Rossi (Aug. 6), Emersound (Brazilian grooves meets Latin reggae, Aug. 11), soul control (soul classics from the ’60s and ’70s, Aug. 11), the Knut Richter Swingtett (American swing, Aug. 13), and Marco Heggen (reggae, funk & Latin pop, Aug. 20) are just a few examples of the diverse lineup on stage on the north shore.

The new Löwenbastion has also put together a varied program. On opening night, MUNIQUE (soul, R&B, funk, rock & poetry) will take the stage with special guest BRIXX. Under the motto “Unplugged Thursday,” “The Voice of Germany” stars Mic Donet (Aug. 3) and Dimi Rompos (Aug. 10), as well as Vanessa Ekpenyong on Aug. 17, will perform live and unplugged. The series continues with “Thank God it’s Friday,” which kicks off with an open stage for singer-songwriters. On Saturdays, it’s “Rock You Baby” time: MIT 18, the Westernhagen cover band (August 5), Heavy Entertainment—a tribute to Robbie Williams (August 12), the Queen Revival Band (August 12), and MUNIQUE with a special guest will rock the new Löwenbastion. Sundays take a slightly more laid-back turn with “Soul’n Brunch.” Kim Sanders & Band and James Kakande kick things off on August 6; on the second weekend, Maya Fadeeva and the band WANDA take the stage, before Jenniffer Kae and MUNIQUE—featuring Vanessa Ekpenyong, Tommy Reeve, Dimi Rompos, Alexandra Prince, and BRIXX—herald the grand finale. On August 8 and 15, the new Löwenbastion will be all about breakdancing, street dance, and hip-hop: starting at 4:00 p.m., the Hanover-based dance school Link2Dance will take the stage with, among other things, a dance class for children ages 4 and up.

With the cover bands performing on stage at the Maschseequelle, it’s often hard to tell the difference between the original and the cover: Die Toten Ärzte (Aug. 2), BLACK/ROSIE (Aug. 4), and Supernatural Play SANTANA (Aug. 5) will take the stage on the first weekend. Back to the Roots (Aug. 11), QUEEN 2 (Aug. 11), diRE sTRINGS (Aug. 12), and stars from the Hanover rock scene led by Dete Kuhlamm (Aug. 12) have the second weekend firmly in their grasp. On August 18, Mind2Mode will perform hits by U2, Depeche Mode, and Simple Minds, before crowd favorite MARIUZZ brings that authentic Westernhagen vibe to the Maschsee on August 19.

Maschsee Festival Legends on the Park Stage
Under this theme, live classics will be performing right next to the Maschseefest at the Gilde Parkbühne this past weekend. Terry Hoax on Friday, August 18, and Torfrock and Lotto King Karl on Saturday.

Cabaret and supporting program

© Clown Fussel

On Saturdays and Sundays (except on August 13, during the Bahlsen “Crazy Crossing”), the area at the Stadion pier becomes a venue for spectacular cabaret performances. Sometimes quirky, sometimes daring, sometimes cheeky, sometimes funny—but always professional: Gina Ginella, as a bathing beauty, has lost her bearings and can’t find her way back to shore (August 5); Arthur captivates the crowd with bizarre unicycle stunts and a doppelgänger who appears out of nowhere (August 12); while Andy Clapp makes objects vanish (August 12). On the final weekend, Bett-Män, illustrious bathers, and Alma Holladrio—with her yodeling diploma—will be bustling about at Maschsee. Once again, plenty of street performers will mingle with the visitors on the north shore.

The Maschseefest is the place to be for all partygoers in August. At the Hamborger Veermaster, there’s a maritime program featuring shanty and sailors’ choirs, themed evenings celebrating the cult stars Freddy Quinn and Hans Albers, and the popular “Schwofen auf der Tanzfläche” (dancing on the dance floor), which takes place daily starting at 8:00 p.m. in the cabin. Every Tuesday and Thursday at the Maschseequelle, Hanover’s salsa dance clubs present Latin dance shows, including short workshops. Jazz brunch events—such as every Sunday with the Bourbon Skiffle Company in the Pier Garden or on August 13 with the Christian von der Osten Trio in the See-Salon—round out the program.

© Maschsee pirates

Children's program
Of course, even the youngest visitors have their own program: On the large children’s playground at the HDI Arena, Xiè-Xiè Leisure and Experiential Education invites kids to join in on fun hands-on activities. From Friday through Sunday, as well as on Wednesdays (except August 2), a world of fun opens up there from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for all those who love to play and do crafts. Face painting, craft stations, giant Memory, a bounce house, and a Bobby Car course for the little ones—beach chairs and coffee for the grown-ups. Every Wednesday, you can try out fun exercises together with the KIYO children’s yoga school. Plus, the duo Einfach Riesig, Monsieur Momo, and Clown Fussel—under the direction of the Pavillon Cultural Center—will keep the atmosphere lively and cheerful.

Maschsee pirates
Just in time for the start of the 2017 Maschsee Festival, the beloved pirates are off on another plundering expedition. Captain Zopf (Elisa Salamanca), along with ship’s boy Mathjes (Mathias Lück) and stowaway Clown Fidolo (Horst Schneider), is already looking forward to new adventures—and especially to coming up with all sorts of pirate shenanigans again. Together with the parrot Bounty, the Pirate Jennies, and helmsman Achim from üstra, they set sail, sing offbeat pirate songs, and—with a little luck—might even find the key to the treasure chest. (Dates: August 3, 8, 10, 15, and 17, at 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. each day)

On the lake
In addition to the attractions along the waterfront promenades, exciting events and activities will take place at the festival’s main attraction, the Maschsee. The evening torchlight swim on August 5—organized by the Hannover Diving Club with over 100 divers from Lower Saxony—will captivate spectators with its romantic charm. On August 13, the starting signal will be given for the Bahlsen Crazy Crossing fun boat race, organized by Antenne Niedersachsen. On the festival’s final weekend, the NKR will be a guest at the Maschsee Festival. 100 large Big Ducks and 5,000 small rubber ducks will take part in the 8th NKR Duck-Fun(d)racing race against leukemia (August 19). New this year: the mayor, the regional president, as well as the district mayors and mayors of the regional municipalities will compete in a special race with “sharks” for a good cause.

© Crazy Crossing

Social Partner – SOS Children's Villages
For the first time, SOS Children’s Villages is participating as a social partner with its own information booth on the north shore of the Maschsee Festival. At select food and beverage locations, visitors also have the opportunity to donate their bottle deposits directly to SOS Children’s Villages and thereby help children in Germany. “The opportunity to showcase SOS Children’s Villages at a festival of this magnitude is a tremendous stroke of luck for us. We are very grateful to the organizers for their comprehensive involvement and look forward to many wonderful encounters at the Maschsee,” says Christine Rust, head of the Friends and Sponsors Team.

Travel Blogger Meetup in Hanover
On August 5, the German travel bloggers’ meetup will take place in Hanover for the first time. Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH (HMTG) has received 40 registrations for the event, which is now fully booked. Planned activities include a tour of Linden and the Nordstadt district under the theme “Street Art and Food,” a visit to the Erlebnis-Zoo, and a workshop at the Cumberland Gallery. The gathering will conclude with a group visit to the Maschsee Festival.

Ideas Boulevard@Maschseefest
On August 15, the Creative Mile is all about touching, trying out, and getting involved! From freaky fashion, music, and tax apps to 360° virtual reality action movies, there’s a wide variety of innovations to see and experience here. In addition, workshops and presentations will address everyday questions about the digital world—such as how to take better photos with a smartphone, how search engine optimization works, or how to create your own website. There will also be infotainment sessions and startup pitches. The Groove Garden will serve as a conference room, where digital thought leaders will engage in discussions with representatives from politics and business. At the Maschsee Pavilion, the program is geared toward businesses. Participants include, for example, üstra, Heise Verlag, the Madsack Media Group, Geheimpunkt, and many others

The Ideen-Boulevard is an event organized by the kre|H|tiv Network Hannover with support from Hannover Veranstaltungs GmbH.

The App — The Maschsee Festival on the Go
In 2017, guests can once again conveniently plan their visit using their smartphones and enjoy an interactive experience. The new app, developed specifically for the event, will be available for free in the Google Play Store and the Apple iTunes Store starting August 2. The app provides practical information about the various stages, artist performance times, and the supporting program, as well as an interactive site map that displays locations via GPS.

© HMTG / Kevin Münkel

New bike path
To ensure smooth bicycle traffic along the northern part of Lake Maschsee, on the Rudolf-von-Bennigsen-Ufer, during setup, the Maschsee Festival, and takedown, the state capital is establishing a dedicated bike path that is physically separated from the rest of the road traffic. From July 20 through August 28, the bike path leading into the city on the east side of Rudolf-von-Bennigsen-Ufer, between Altenbekener Damm and Kurt-Schwitters-Platz, will be relocated to the roadway.

Service
: For questions about the Maschseefest, please call the citizen hotline. Michael Mellenthin can be reached at 0151 – 21 13 45 65 through August 27.
Especially for the Maschseefest, üstra bus line 267 will run between the Kröpcke stop and the beach. Additional stops will be set up along the waterfront promenade for this route.

For more information about the Maschseefest and the complete program, visit www.maschseefest.de or check out the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hannovermaschseefest.

Photos for editorial use can be found at: www.maschseefest.de/presse

For anyone who would like to combine the Maschseefest with a short trip to Hanover, Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH (HMTG) has put together a special experience package as well as a discounted group offer. For more information, visit www.maschseefest.de/uebernachten.

© HVG / Münkel

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