Hotspot on the Coast: HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY with a Top-Notch Programme

The Biggest Harbour Festival in the World, from 8th to 10th May 2020
 
Clear the decks for the biggest harbour festival in the world: Hamburg residents are celebrating the 831st HAFENGEBURTSTAG HAMBURG (Hamburg Port Anniversary) with visitors from all over the world, from 8th to 10th May. More than 300 vessels have confirmed their participation, including majestic tall ships, monumental cruise ships, modern emergency vehicles and museum ships. Against the unique backdrop of Hamburg Harbour, visitors can expect an eventful maritime programme suitable for the whole family. The festival atmosphere will be added to by numerous free open-air concerts along the Elbe.
 
Experience Ship Parades in the Heart of the City and other Attractions
HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY traditionally kicks off with the International Ecumenical Opening Service at 14:00 at St. Michael’s Church. Visitors can watch the Grand Arrival Parade arriving from 16:00. Led by the Hamburg Frigate, the parade of vessels will progress in direct view of visitors. At the front will be Europe’s most modern firefighting tender, “Branddirektor Westphal” accompanied by five icebreakers/tugboats. The tall ships Mir and Alexander von Humboldt II will also provide a spectacular sight.
 
Another crowd-puller for both young and old is the unique tugboat ballet, in which more than a thousand powerful harbour tugboats pirouette and sway to well-known melodies on the Elbe. From 22:30, AIDA Cruises will be putting on a fireworks display, and a 15-minute laser show full of atmospheric highlights. As a farewell, the vessels will assemble on Sunday at 17:30 for the Grand Departure Parade.
 
Marvel at New Emergency Vehicles and Giants of the Seven Seas
While the tall ships Mir and Alexander von Humboldt II embody traditional seafaring, the modern emergency vehicles represent what’s high tech on the water. The federal police force will present their new operational ship Potsdam and the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service will exhibit their new rescue cruiser Hamburg. The water police, fishery protection and customs will also be participating in operational ships. The Flotte Hamburg will be presenting the Branddirecktor Westphal Firefighting tender and Hamburg harbour’s two biggest icebreakers among other things. Ten navy ships from both home and abroad are coming to Hamburg. This  extraordinary diversity of ships will be  rounded off by a visit from nine cruise ships in total, including two ships from AIDA Cruises, the AIDAperla and the AIDAsol. Many of the emergency vehicles, tall ships and museum ships will invite you onboard as part of the Open Ship Campaign.
 
Take Part and Share the Thrill of Sport
Sport is capitalised in the HafenCity at Grasbrookhafen. At the 2nd Active City Championships visitors can experience more than 15 types of sports, both on the water and on land, including dragon boating, sailing, boxing, bouldering, indoor-rowing, hockey and beach volleyball. Grasbrookhafen will become a water sports arena and host sailboat and dragon boat racing.
 
Enjoy Free Concerts
Numerous free open-air concerts on 13 stages, including the NDR stage and the Hafenrock stages, will create a festival atmosphere. The spectrum of music will vary from classical to rock to punk music. The open-air electro club in Harbour Beatz at Beach Club Strand Pauli is new in this year’s celebrations. Classical music fans will be able to enjoy the “Elbphilharmonie Concerts on Screen“, showing concert recordings from the large hall on the forecourt of Elbphilharmonie Hamburg.
 
Visit Partner Country Croatia
This year’s partner country, Croatia, will be presenting their culture, lifestyle and culinary delicacies at the Kehrwiederspitze. Visitors will also learn more information about the tourist highlights of the Mediterranean country on the Adriatic Sea and about its famous cities, Dubrovnik, Split and Rijeka, as well as interesting facts about the capital, Zagreb. Rijeka is a city on Kvarner Bay. With 130,000 inhabitants, it is the third biggest city in Croatia and is in the public eye this year as it is the European Capital of Culture. In addition to this, culinary specialties from Croatia will be served. The diverse Croatian cuisine combines specialties from different regions such as Pag island cheese, Slavonian kulen (sausage specialty), Drnišer Pršut (raw ham), Istrische Supa (wine soup), Cres island lamb, Kvarner style scampi, Štrukli aus Zagorje (type of strudel) and Ston oysters.
 
Celebrate Onshore Along the Elbe
The attractions at the HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY will range from fish auction halls in Altona to Kehrwiederspitze and will take place both on- and offshore in the HafenCity and close to the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg. The Traditional Ship Harbours, Grasbrookhafen and Speicherstadt – a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015 – and the Museumshafen Oevelgönne will also be offering an attractive maritime programme suitable for the whole family. HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY invites you to celebrate and wander over a six-kilometre stretch along the Elbe.
 
Join the Parades on the Elbe
Many of the HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY vessels will be offering the opportunity for you to join them during the parade. An overview and further useful tips about the biggest harbour festival in the world can be found here: www.hafengeburtstag.hamburg
 
HAMBURG PORT ANNIVERSARY thanks all its sponsors, in particular their long-term main sponsor, AIDA Cruises. Thanks to your support, the biggest harbour festival in the world attracts over one million visitors from all over the world every year.