37. Maschseefest

37th Maschsee Festival in Hannover Kicks Off at the End of July with 19 Days of Maritime Open-Air Flair in the Heart of the City

"The Maschsee Festival offers a maritime open-air experience for everyone over the course of 19 days. It is a well-established highlight in the city’s event calendar and, as the largest folk festival in Lower Saxony, attracts thousands of visitors from Germany and neighboring European countries each year. This flagship event for North German celebration culture has proven our reputation across Europe. After being plagued by extremely bad weather last year, we hope for stable weather with plenty of sunshine this year and look forward to presenting the festival in its usual high quality," says Hans Nolte, head of Hannover Marketing & Tourismus GmbH.

News

The Food Mile on the east bank is relocating. Previously, food stands with a diverse range of dishes and drinks lined the northern part of Rudolf-von-Bennigsen-Ufer. Now, the gastronomy is moving to Geibel and will become the new South City hub. Visitors to the new Food Village at Geibel can expect not only a variety of delicacies but also a diverse supporting program from Wednesday to Sunday, including live music, DJ sets, and brunches. Among other highlights, the Soulclub will be performing on Fridays. Guests at Geibel can also enjoy fine wines with a relaxed lake view: Enrico Leone and Le Sommelier are bringing two special wine venues from Hannover to the east bank.

In the upper cove of Geibel, the tour operator America Unlimited is bringing a touch of Californian flair to Hannover with the America Unlimited Sunset Beach. Here, visitors can relax in deck chairs under palm trees with chillout vibes and a view of the lake. A special highlight is America Unlimited’s mobile travel agency, located directly at the Sunset Beach, where travel experts offer tips for the next vacation in the USA.

The former Food Mile at Rudolf-von-Bennigsen-Ufer will be transformed into a space reminiscent of San Francisco. With street food pizza, burgers, and tacos, guests will be transported straight to the West Coast of America.

The Food Mile on the west bank will remain unchanged.

The north bank will soon be bathed in blue as KONE becomes the new partner of the Maschsee Pavilion. The world market leader in elevators, escalators, and automatic doors will sponsor the prominent location until the end of 2026. The globally operating company, with Finnish roots and its German headquarters in Hannover, provides a perfect anchor for international events and gatherings of all kinds. As usual, popular cocktails and long drinks, non-alcoholic beverages, and finger foods will be served with a wonderful view of the event.

On the children’s meadow at the west bank, young guests can look forward to a colorful and free activity program with many creative and physical activities. For the first time this year, the Turn-Klubb zu Hannover (TKH) will participate, including with an airtrack. The air cushion will feature acrobatic activities.

Delicacies from Around the World

The Maschsee Festival has established itself as a paradise for gourmets with its culinary oases spread over around 20,000 square meters – and that will remain unchanged. International cuisine – from oriental to Mexican, Asian, Scandinavian, and Hanseatic – exclusive, exotic, traditional, and "to go" – will take guests on a culinary journey around the world. The international travel portal Big 7 Travel ranked the Maschsee Festival 9th on its list of the best summer festivals for foodies in 2022, making it the only festival in Germany to make the top ten.

A Culinary Tour Around the Lake

In the northwest, RADIO 21 Lounge serves cool drinks with a view of the north bank. At Waldkater meets Spain on the west bank, tapas variations and other Spanish specialties are on the menu.

The route continues past the SeeBiergarten with Reimann’s Grill, Bolero Island where cool mixed drinks are served with music from the turntable, to the north bank:
At the KONE Pavilion, cocktails with a sensational view over the water are enjoyed.

The Bährenstarke Lighthouse Corner remains a popular destination for beer and grill specialties. Welcome to Miami offers refined burgers, hot dogs, and fresh bowls.

AL-DAR features Syrian cuisine, with fresh specialties served with quality wines from Lebanon in an atmospheric Oriental setting. Right next door, Tulum offers Mexican delicacies with Latin American music and festive ambiance. At StrandAlm, historic alpine huts meet sandy beach, German cuisine with beer garden classics meets alpine and North German specialties. Maki, nigiri, special rolls, sashimi & hot sushi rolls are on the menu at Su-shin. Delicious drinks and cocktails are served at the heimW-Bar.

Lindenblatt goes Maschsee Festival: In collaboration with Aresto, the best from the restaurants 800 Grad and Lindenblatt are stylishly combined at the Maschsee Festival. The tradition of the Aresto stand with fine wines and popular winemaker evenings continues. At WATERKANT – Madsack SeeSalon, the specialties of the German coast, including fine coastal wines, are on the menu.

At Rudolf-von-Bennigsen-Ufer, one of the oldest dining and entertainment venues on Hamburg’s Reeperbahn, Hamborger Veermaster invites guests to enjoy Labskaus or rollmops and dance by the lake. In the neighboring Scandinavian fishing village, visitors can find everything from Flammlachs, backfish, and vegetarian cuisine in the typically colorful houses.

At Geibel, guests will land in the newly designed Food Village East.

Continuing towards Löwenbastion, guests can drop anchor at Pier Garden for a cold beer and other refreshing drinks. At Strandwärts at Halfway House, drinks can be enjoyed in beach chairs. A creative selection of fine foods from SupperClub 34 is served there. In the cozy lounge atmosphere, connoisseurs meet for the summer festival.

Street Food by the Lake - A Culinary World Tour

The Löwenbastion offers a variety of food options from around the world, including different pulled pork creations, a large selection of vegetarian and vegan products, and unique offerings.

Next up is Irish Folk with cider and ale, its own craft beer varieties, and extensive traditional dishes.

In the southwest, the Music Park at Maschsee Source reopens, offering both musical performances and a range of food and drinks. In Food Village West, a colorful mix of stalls with oriental and Asian specialties, pizza, falafel, churros, and ice cream rolls "to go" invites guests to refuel by the lake. More than 4,000 seats are available, with table reservations possible starting now at www.maschseefest.de/reservierungen/

Opening Hours of Maschsee Festival

Monday to Thursday: 2 PM to 1 AM
Friday to Saturday: 2 PM to 2 AM
Sunday: 11 AM to 1 AM

Special Opening Hours for Geibel

To protect residents of South City from noise, Geibel (east bank) will have the following special hours:
Sunday to Thursday: until 10 PM (on opening Wednesday until 11 PM),
Fridays until 2 AM (Friday, August 4, only until 11 PM),
Saturdays until 2 AM (Saturday, August 5, only until midnight).
For closing times of 10 PM and 11 PM, the last order must be placed by then. The actual closing time is 30 minutes later at the latest.

Program Highlights

On the Maschsee Stage at the end of the north bank at "Hellebardier," the German rapper Malik Harris, presented by bigFM, will perform on August 2. The following day (August 3), the cover band Munique traditionally kicks off with a mix of various music genres full of energy.

The program presented by NP and HAZ is also worth noting, including the hip-hop band Passepartout on August 10 or "Scorpions" guitarist Rudolf Schenker, who will perform at the NP Rendezvous on August 18. From August 16 to 18, RADIO 21 will transform the Maschsee Stage into a rock venue with great cover bands like Re-Play and Reckless Roses.

At Hamborger Veermaster, shanty and sailor choirs create a maritime atmosphere. At the Music Park at Maschsee Source, internationally renowned cover bands like Die Toten Ärzte (July 31) or Sweety Glitter & The Sweethearts (August 2) will perform. The best Irish atmosphere can be experienced at the south bank: Irish Folk features various bands with authentic folk performances throughout all 19 days.

The complete program for the Maschsee Festival can be found at
www.maschseefest.de/veranstaltungen/

Classics and Crowd Favorites

A comedy show with Rachel from Berlin and a live performance by John Riot will take place on Wednesday, August 7, during QueerWednesday with Disco Jutta & Carrie Gold. The entire north bank will turn into a rainbow mile.

The popular Fish Seeks Bicycle party attracts singles and flirts to the Maschsee Stage at the north bank on August 9.

On the last festival weekend (August 17), the charity duck race will once again take place on Maschsee. The 13th Duck Race by the North German Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Donor Registry (NKR) features big ducks and small rubber ducks racing under the motto “Giving Life - Against Leukemia” for a good cause.

Another crowd favorite, the traditional torch swim, which had to be canceled in 2023 for safety reasons, is planned for this year – on Saturday, August 3, starting at 9:30 PM. Young Maschsee pirates can also look forward to the usual adventure trip with üstralala. A limited number of tickets are available online at https://www.maschseefest.de/tickets/
The Big Children's Meadow Between Seufzerallee and Karl-Thiele-Weg (in Front of the Heinz von Heiden Arena) Invites Kids for Climbing, Crafting, Playing, and Face Painting

This year, the large children's meadow between Seufzerallee and Karl-Thiele-Weg (in front of the Heinz von Heiden Arena) is open every Wednesday (except the opening Wednesday), Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for climbing, crafting, playing, and face painting.

**HAZ and NP to Host the Stage at the North Shore**

The Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung (HAZ) and Neue Presse (NP) are back as media partners, continuing from last year. They will provide a diverse program on the Maschsee Stage at the north shore daily.

**Radio Partnerships Bring Unique Programs to the Stage**

In their third year of partnership, bigFM and Radio 21 will also be involved. bigFM will feature Malik Harris on stage during the first festival weekend. On the last weekend, Radio 21 will energize the crowd with cover bands like Re-Play and Reckless Rose (both at the Maschsee Stage, North Shore). Radio Hannover will debut this year as a partner providing the music program at the Maschsee Source.

**Sustainability and Diversity in Action**

Sustainability is more relevant than ever. In addition to strongly recommending emission-free travel by bike or public transport, stall operators have been using mostly plastic-free dishes and reducing waste for several years. Restaurants and beer gardens use only glasses, dishes, and cutlery that are washed on-site. For take-away options, bowls, cutlery, drink containers, and straws made from plastic-free materials are predominantly offered.

Not only is gastronomic diversity important to Hannover Marketing & Tourismus GmbH (HVG), but also the diversity represented on the stages and in the program.

On "Digital Tuesday" (August 13), various startups will present innovative ideas and visionary concepts for creating a sustainable future at the Pitch Event "Höhle des Karpfen."

Diversity on the lake is brought by the rainbow-colored Maschsee boat, which will ferry guests from shore to shore as part of the ÜSTRA project #buntfährtbesser.

**Guidelines for a Safe and Respectful Environment**

Events organized by HVG, such as the Maschsee Festival, are designed to be inclusive and multicultural – catering to all people, cultures, age groups, gender identities, and sexual orientations.

The programs are as diverse as the guests they attract. Everyone should feel comfortable, with safety being a top priority. In addition to the existing security concept, HVG has introduced a "Mindfulness Guide" to foster respectful interactions and address any forms of misconduct. Measures include the use of the Saferspaces app and an enhanced PSNV (Psychosocial Emergency Care) team from Johanniter. The app can be accessed by scanning the QR code on Saferspaces posters around Maschsee and in restrooms. Those without smartphones can call the Johanniter hotline (0800 0192140). Johanniter also provides retreat and protection areas. All staff, DJs, and vendors are trained to prevent discriminatory behavior, record and report incidents, and provide initial refuge where victims can access Johanniter support if desired.

**New Power Bank Rental at the Maschsee Festival**

The Hannover-based startup SHARE ensures that festival-goers always have enough energy. With power bank rental stations at SeeBiergarten, Courtyard Hotel, the main stage, Geibelstraße, and Maschseequelle, users can rent a power bank without registration and charge their phones on the go for one euro per half hour (maximum six euros per day) with a 40-euro deposit.

**Rendezvous with the Star: Maschsee Takes Center Stage**

No one can outshine the Maschsee during the summer – it’s the star of the season. Enjoy sunsets under palm trees, in close proximity to the water with views of the urban skyline of Niedersachsen's capital – it's unique. During the day, you can enjoy a boat tour with ÜSTRA's Maschsee fleet, and in the evening, watch the romantic starry sky, while diving into the party scene in between.

**Arrival and Departure, Parking, and Mobility at the Lake**

HVG recommends using public transport. A special bus line 267 operates between Kröpcke and the Strandbad, with several stops directly at the lake promenade. Bus line 800 serves the section from Altenbekener Damm to Aegidientorplatz.

Tram lines 1, 2, and 8 run from the main station and Kröpcke to Aegidientorplatz, while lines 3, 7, and 9 reach the Waterloo station (a 10-minute walk to Maschsee).

**Temporary Bike Path to Maschsee Festival**

The most environmentally friendly arrival option is by bike. To make this as easy as possible, there will be a dedicated bike path on Rudolf-von-Bennigsen-Ufer. From mid-July to around August 22, 2024, the inbound bike path on the east side of Rudolf-von-Bennigsen-Ufer between Altenbekener Damm and Kurt-Schwitters-Platz will be relocated to the roadway. The actual bike path directly at Maschsee will be temporarily out of service.

**Closure of the Western South City**

Last year, there was no parking search traffic around the Maschsee area, resulting in significantly less noise, emissions, and stress for local residents. This was due to the newly tested traffic concept in 2022: the closure of the western South City. This year, the area between Maschsee and Hildesheimer Straße will again be temporarily closed to non-residents. The closure applies on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 7 PM to 10 PM, and on Saturdays from 6 PM to 10 PM. The staffed barriers are only passable with an appropriate permit.

**Festival Apparel: Collection Made by HEIMATHAFEN**

Susanne Flohr and Volker Reckhoff from the sailing school at the north shore offer a piece of the Maschsee Festival to take home – with a specially designed Maschsee Festival collection. The exclusive festival motif adorns T-shirts for men and women, drawstring bags in blue and white, and coffee mugs. These items can be purchased at the beginning of Rudolf-von-Bennigsen-Ufer, Monday to Friday from 3 PM to 9 PM.

**Maschsee Festival Experience Package with Accommodation in a 3- or 4-Star Hotel**

For those who want to combine the Maschsee Festival with a short trip to Hannover, HMTG offers a suitable experience package and a discounted group special.

**Practical & Convenient: www.maschseefest.de**

All information about the Maschsee Festival 2024, including the complete program and an overview map for download, can be found translated by AI into ten languages online at www.maschseefest.de, as well as on Facebook: www.facebook.com/hannovermaschseefest and Instagram: www.instagram.com/maschseefest_hannover/

#maschseefest #visithannover

**Don't Miss Anything Before and After the Maschsee Festival**

Also visit our new site www.hannover-living.de – with a comprehensive event calendar, restaurant, nightlife, and leisure guide with filter functions for easy searching, as well as many insider tips and information about the different trendy districts of the capital city.

**Press Photos for Download**

Available at https://www.maschseefest.de/presse/

**Press Contact**

Ela Windels  
Hannover Marketing & Tourismus GmbH  
Vahrenwalder Straße 7  
30165 Hannover  
Tel.: +49 (0)511 1234 90 26; Mobile: +49 (0)173 238 49 75  
Email: presse@hannover-marketing.de; windels@hannover-marketing.de