On August 19, 2006 the city of Potsdam will be hosting its sixth annual Potsdamer Schlössernacht 2006, or Night of Palaces. Once a year, visitors can stroll through the palaces and gardens surrounding New Palace, Cecilienhof, Sansoucci and Babelsberg - and do it at night.

The illuminated palaces and gardens will be on display until midnight - in fact, 15 km of illuminated pathways will wind through the gardens, including light installations along the garden's viewing axes, sight-seeing stations and landscape gardening highlights.

There will also be a programme of various musical (classical, jazz and rock) and theatrical performances, with the highlight of the evening a fireworks display set to music above the Sanssouci palace.

Apparently, last year some 35,000 visitors attended the festival – and sadly, I wasn't one of them. And I'll be out of town during this year's. If anyone else has attended, I'd love to hear about it. Since Potsdam is just a few kilometres from Berlin, seems like it'd make a nice evening out if you live in the city. Tickets range from €30 - 60 Euros and details about them are available here.

Additional info:
Potsdam.de - Schlössernacht - the Potsdam Night of the Palaces

New Palace (Potsdam) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sanssouci - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sanssouci Park - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tickets are next to impossible to get unless you queue on the day of release. Or check Ebay of course. It's become very popular in the last couple of years and is a superb night out.

2 years ago when I last went they had some ridiculous restriction on bringing food into the park. Probably to justify the huge sums they get from storeholders for the event.

Other than that a great night out and fantastic fireworks to finish.