4th of July 2008 celebrations in Germany

In the United States, Independence Day (commonly known as the 4th of July) is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, baseball games, and various other events.

Here we list some of the celebrations that are happening throughout Germany.

In Berlin:

• Amerikafest, celebrating 4th of July and the opening of the new U.S. Embassy in Berlin. There's a two-day open-air street festival and stage program at the Brandenburg Gate. Friday and Saturday July 4 and 5.
• 4th July party at Pirate Cove Club and Stage Bar, Tempelhofer Ufer 1. Starts 10pm Friday July 4. Entrance is €5.

In Munich:

• Americans in Munich Stammtisch special, from 6:30pm Friday 4.Jul.2008 at the Hirschgarten beer garden. This looks to be the biggest informal gathering in Munich. At time of writing there are 100 people signed up. Add your name to the list if you wish to join. Everyone is welcome.
• Democrats Abroad city walk, meet 2pm at Marienplatz, Friday July 4.
• Young Democrats Abroad party, from 7.30pm Friday July 4 at the Gasthaus Alte Messe beer garden.
• 4th July party at Piazza Linda with live music. Friday 4.Jul.2008, €6 cover charge, reservations necessary.
• Democrats Abroad Independence Day party from noon Sunday July 6 at the Waldwirtschaft beer garden.
• Eric Nelson's reception at the U.S. Consulate in Munich, noon Tuesday July 8. Entrance by invite only.

Elsewhere in Germany:

• 4th of July parties in Düsseldorf
• Meet up plans in Hamburg
• Meet up plans in Stuttgart

If you know of any more parties, feel free to post the details below.

See Wikipedia for more general info about Independence Day (United States).

Mannheim:

• Anyone for baseball? There's an international game in Mannheim on Friday. Germany vs France. Entrance is €6, you should come early enough, because it will be full. Tornados
• German-American Summer Fest 2008 (June 27 - July 6). Carnival rides, live bands, fireworks, food/bev, etc. Parking lot of Benjamin Franklin Village & Top Hat Club (open access for wider community)

USAG Ansbach: 3-10 p.m. July 4 at Hangar 2, Katterbach. Contests and competitions to include beautiful baby, rock band and "American Idol," soccer shoot-out, water balloons toss, pie-eating and hot dog-eating contests, limbo, frozen T-shirt contest, plus bouncing castles, concessions and more. Fireworks begin at 10:30 p.m. For more information, e-mail ans-mwr@eur.army.mil.

USAG Baden-Württemberg/USAG Heidelberg: 4-11 p.m. July 4 at Patrick Henry Village Park, Heidelberg. Children’s activities, martial-arts demonstrations, live music and fireworks.

USAG Baumholder: The garrison will join the celebration at Ramstein Air Base. Shuttle buses will depart from Wagon Wheel Theater at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m.; returning from Ramstein Base Exchange at 4, 6, 8 and 10 p.m. and midnight. Look for buses with the MWR signs in the front window.

USAG Bamberg: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. July 4 at Pendleton Field. Golf tournament, fun run, hot-rod car show, food and drinks, talent show and music; fireworks at 10.

USAG Garmisch: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. July 4 at Artillery Kaserne. County fair with 5K fun run, softball tournament, old-fashioned American-style county fair with barbecue-style food, chili cook-off, games and more.

USAG Grafenwöhr/Vilseck: 10:30 p.m. July 4 at Tower Theater Parking Lot, Grafenwöhr; 10:30 p.m. July 4 at Little Mike Softball Field, Vilseck. Also concerts at Grafenwöhr Field House on July 5 and 6.

USAG Hohenfels: starting at 6 p.m. July 4 near the CAC/bowling center. Bowling, volleyball, bouncing castle, music (disc jockey and band); fireworks around 10:30 p.m.

USAG Kaiserslautern: The garrison will join the July 4 celebration at Ramstein Air Base. Free Skate for America, 6-9 p.m. July 3 at Skate Express on Vogelweh.

USAG Mannheim: German-American Summer Fest, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily through July 6 at Benjamin Franklin Village Bowling and Top Hat parking lot. Carnival rides, games, food and more. Fireworks begin at 10:30 p.m. July 4. For details, call DSN 385-3169 or 385-2653, or 0621-730-3169 or 0621-730-2653.

Ramstein Air Base: 2 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. July 4-July 5 on Ramp 6. Dog show, baking contest, KMC Idol competition, live entertainment and fireworks at 10:30. Celebration is for entire Kaiserslautern military community, and shuttle buses will run to and from Ramstein Base Exchange from 1:30 p.m. July 4 to 1:30 a.m. July 5.

USAG Schweinfurt: Noon-10 p.m. July 4 at Kessler Field. Includes four live bands, fire-breathers, jugglers, clowns, balloon artists, face-painting, bungee trampoline, mechanical bull, surf simulator, dolphin slide, climbing mountain, ski-jump slide, parade of flags, falcon show and fireworks. Open to U.S. ID cardholders and guests.

Spangdahlem Air Base: Starting at 6 p.m. July 4 at the Club Eifel. Volleyball, horseshoes, paintball, children’s games, food and fireworks.

USAG Stuttgart: 4-11 p.m. July 3; 10 a.m. until time for the fireworks July 4 at Husky Field, Patch Barracks. Live music, 5K fun run, craft fair, food and drinks, field games and other events, including fireworks at 10:30 p.m.

USAG Wiesbaden: 4-10 p.m. July 4 at Wiesbaden Army Airfield. Traditional Independence Day bash featuring music, sumo wrestling, face-painting, jumping castles and fireworks. More information by calling Outdoor Recreation at DSN 335-5760 or 0611-4080-760.

Source from stars and stripes

Yes, but can "normal" people go to those events on military bases?

Is anyone on TT "normal"? Except Editor Bob, of course.

wow...I'm surprised there is so many events...

From what I understand, no. Civilians cannot get on base in Germany without a DoD ID (Lots of civilian contractors around).

To get on, you need to be signed in by someone. I do not know if they have to escort you the whole time on base.

I got this official from a military guy on base by email.

My wife says she heard on AFN Eagle radio that they were opening the base to the public for some event... But we never heard that advert again, so maybe she was mistaken. Either way, too bad they can't open up to US citizens for the fourth

not around here!

There are more than you might think.

In Munich? Not that it really matters to me, I've adapted to being "just" a civilian in a foreign country (though I never turn down a bag of cheetos!!)

Yup. Contractors, DoD civilians...They're out there.

In Mannheim yes. At least to the German-American summer fest. Might be similar in other cities.

Is anyone else going to be at the reception at the US consulate in Munich on Tuesday?

Yes, I am. You too?

I am too.

You got an invite this year? Crikey, standards are slipping.

You got that backwards. Standards are rising!

Maybe eurovol is simply "so bekannt wie ein bunter Hund".

I am going to be there with a couple of co-workers and the husband of one of them. My supervisor got the invitation, not me, but she's not going.

Does anybody know if there's anything happening in Frankfurt or surounds?

how do I get to the garrison in Mannheim?

Take the tram from MA Hauptbahnhof. The line is the OEG / line 5 (the red one) and get off at the stop Käfertal Wald. The stop is right outside the main gate of BFV. (If I remember correctly, haven't been there in over a year, BFV is on the left from the tram stop if you are looking into the direction the tram is going. See this map:
http://www.freewebs.com/504thsignal/BFVMap65.jpg)

Here is a schematic map of public transport in MA: http://www.vrn.de/imperia/md/content/linie...ma_rnv_2008.pdf

Obama im Hofbräuhaus

Way to go, eurovol! We had a copy of the newspaper at the American Stammtisch this evening. We are not worthy!

Wait for the video! No, seriously! This band called Hijack was shooting a music video at the Rathaus and asked us to stand behind the drummer for some shots and vid. I think they really just wanted the cute Young Dem girls.

Celebration in Schweinfurt post tonight. Live band Called "sevendust"
Click to enlarge pictures

"normal" is being generous...or are you just an ass kiss?