Cultural highlights
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a land of variety. This is true not only for the magnificent landscape between the Elbe River and the Baltic Sea, but also for the diversity of the cultural events it has to offer. Especially in the warm season people who are interested in culture will appreciate the colourful choice of events.
Music enthusiasts should by no means miss the music festivals which take place in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern every summer. In addition to first-rate interpreters, extraordinary venues are the hallmarks of these musical events. Great musical performances in small churches and at other historical landmarks are offered at the festival known as the Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. On the occasion of the Schlossfestspiele, the castle festival in Schwerin, an opera is traditionally performed before the romantic background of the castle and lake setting. The operettas performed at the Schlossgartenfestspiele Neustrelitz, a palace garden festival, are staged on the historical castle grounds. In addition, the Stralsund floating stage, the museum harbour of Greifswald and the Eldena monastery ruins provide three impressive coulisses for the Baltic Festival.
If you feel like experiencing the special charm of a folk festival then you should attend the Hanse Sail in Rostock. On four days in August everything between the city harbour and Warnemünde is focused on big and small, old and new sailing boats.
Truly 'thievish' entertainment is guaranteed if you attend the Störtebeker-Festspiele, a festival in Ralswiek on the island of Rügen. The enthralling spectacle performed on an outdoor stage revives the ghost of the buccaneer every summer. And in Zinnowitz at the Vineta Festival you can experience exciting tales of the legendary sunken town directly on the beach of the Baltic Sea.
Cineastes, too, can look forward to a special highlight: Films off the mainstream track constitute the programme of the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Filmkunstfest, a cinematic festival. The best film is awarded with an "Ox", the heraldic animal of Mecklenburg.