The days when children looked forward to going to fairs, where they could ride merry-go-rounds and marvel at curiosities, seem long gone. But Hamburg's young people still look forward to the fair, because three times a year the city hosts the largest festival in northern Germany, the Hamburger Dom. There are lots of rides, colourful shows, toys and sweets for sale -— a real treat for children, and many families plan a trip to Hamburg during the festival.
Hamburg fair first opened in 1329, and since 1892 the fair has moved to its current location on Heiligengeistfeld in St. Pauli. Amazingly, the rides stretch for three kilometres and each festival brings new attractions for its guests. These include the classic merry-go-round and the giant Ferris wheel.
Planten un Blomen Park is just 600 meters away. Be sure to take a walk there with the whole family.
The rest of the attractions are state of the art, including a laser maze and a car racing simulator. Thrill seekers, adventurers and Hamburg's youngest visitors will all find something to their taste. There is a vintage train ride, a children's race track, a playground, an underwater journey and much more. The high slide, where the toboggan is lowered down, is very popular with visitors of all ages.
The festival has some incredibly beautiful Christmas or Easter performances. But they are not the only things that attract visitors. The highlight of one festival was the Mouse Theatre, where these nimble rodents showed off their talents. Another festival wowed everyone with an illusion. And, just like the fairs of yesteryear, somewhere among the stalls is a fortune-teller's hut, where she gazes into a crystal ball and tries to tell your fortune.
There are also many other colourful characters at the fair, including witches, cowboys and knights. Among the rides are stalls selling sweets and souvenirs. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between the sweets and the toys: shiny, caramel-lacquered barrel apples or intricately painted gingerbread are actually pitiful to eat.
Once a week, the Hamburger Dom declares Family Day, when all rides are considerably cheaper. There are also colourful fireworks displays in the evening several times during the festival.
