The 33rd Vegesack Harbour Festival near Bremen is taking place from 1 to 3 June 2012. This harbour festival with maritime flair offers a wide range of entertainment and great food and drink. A whole host of artists and bands will be creating a fantastic atmosphere across four stages and are sure to make this a lively and fun event.

Although the Rheingau wine region is primarily associated with riesling, the village of Assmannshausen is famous for its red wine. This is celebrated at the 'Assmannshausen in Red' festival (1 to 3 June 2012), when the road beside the Rhine is adorned with red illuminations. Festival-goers can sample local pinot noir wines along with a host of culinary specialities on the red theme. Other highlights are the Rheingau art market and the firework display set to music over the Rhine on Saturday.

Markus Lüpertz is a contemporary German artist who has achieved international acclaim. The Osthaus Museum in Hagen, south of Dortmund, is hosting an exhibition entitled 'Markus Lüpertz – The Painted Horizon' until 29 July 2012, which features a selection of paintings, drawings and sculptures from the last 30 years of the artist's career.

Carl Orff's compositions occupy a prominent place in 20th-century music and theatre and are known far beyond his native Bavaria. Since 1998, the annual Carl Orff Festival has attracted thousands of music and theatre fans to Andechs in Upper Bavaria, a town famous for its abbey. Carl Orff's wide-ranging works are being performed here until 29 July 2012.

The annual Handel Festival is a firm fixture in Halle's cultural calendar and a popular event with music lovers from all over the world. But the event from 31 May to 10 June 2012 also brings musicologists to this town in Saxony-Anhalt where Handel was born – and which is now a centre for research into Handel. The festival programme features numerous concerts and an opera by the composer.

Young herring are the star attraction at the 23rd Matjes Festival from 1 to 3 June 2012 in the sea port of Emden, the largest town in East Friesland. The festival is founded on the 450-year history of Emden's herring fisheries and serves as a reminder of their economic importance. Historical boats and shanty choirs conjure up all the romance of seafaring, and on Saturday there will be a 10km 'herring run' through the town centre.

The international Bodenseewoche regatta brings plenty of hustle and bustle to the historical harbour in the old quarter of Constance. Between 31 May and 3 June 2012, this town in southern Germany is offering a wide-ranging programme of cultural and sporting events such as sailing regattas, harbour concerts and exhibitions of boats and classic cars. The event is free and offers something for everyone.

The town hall in Bremen with its exquisite Weser Renaissance facade dominates the market square and, together with the Roland statue, holds UNESCO World Heritage status. It is also home to one of Germany's most famous wine cellars, where you can sample over 600 wines from every wine-growing region in Germany. Another great opportunity for wine tasting is the wine festival on Bremen market square from 30 May to 3 June 2012.

Albrecht Dürer was the first German painter to enjoy wide recognition all over Europe during his lifetime. He is now the subject of a major exhibition at the Germanic National Museum in Nuremberg. Running until 2 September 2012, 'Albrecht Dürer – The Sources of his Art' gives an insight into Dürer's early work and his life as a young painter.

A special concert is taking place on 30 May 2012 as part of the Middle Rhine Music Festival. The UNESCO World Heritage Concert is celebrating the anniversary of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley gaining UNESCO World Heritage status and is being held at the Church of Our Lady in Oberwesel – where the certificate was originally presented to Minister President Kurt Beck.