On 26 and 27 May 2012, the sand yachting elite will be delivering some awesome performances at the International Whitsun Regatta, reaching speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour. The sandbank in the resort of St. Peter-Ording is not only one of the best sand yachting areas in the world but also serves as a great natural arena for spectators.

Until 28 May 2012, there is a treat in store for anyone walking through the Stetten vineyards near Kernen in the Württemberg wine region. At the Culinary Wine Walk wine festival in Kernen, vintners and restaurateurs will be serving fantastic food and fine wines to walkers at five gourmet stations in the vineyards.

The Romantic Wine Nights in the wine region around Bingen are the ideal choice for an evening out with friends or with your loved one. Between 25 and 27 May 2012, local wines, delicious food and live music form a winning combination in the vineyards close to this town on the fringes of the UNESCO World Heritage Middle Rhine Valley. Breathtaking scenery, including views of the Rhine and its castles, provides the perfect backdrop for a special evening.

From 25 to 26 May 2012, Hamburg docks will again become one big stage for the Elbjazz Festival. It offers visitors a superb programme of music with over 50 concerts at unusual venues. The spotlight is also on jazz on the North Sea island of Borkum, where the Borkumer Jazztage runs until 28 May. So if you enjoy jazz, or even just music at offbeat venues, be sure to head to Hamburg or Borkum this Whitsun weekend.

Over the Whitsun weekend, from 25 to 28 May 2012, the spotlight is on sekt, wine and brandy from vineyards in the Ahr wine region. On the historical market square in Ahrweiler, visitors will be discovering the bounty of the region, enjoying fantastic music and savouring the atmosphere. There are over 200 different wines just waiting to be sampled by connoisseurs and novices alike.

On 26 May 2012, more than 120 yachts will be going great guns in the waters between Kiel and Eckernförde. The 'Eel Regatta' (Aalregatta) offers something for all the family including short-distance races in Eckernförde bay on Sunday and accompanying entertainment on land until 28 May. Though known mainly for the regattas, this long-established event also has a reputation for being a fun, friendly occasion.

Between 25 and 28 May 2012, professional performers as well as all sorts of people in colourful parade costumes will be celebrating the Carnival of Cultures in the streets of Berlin. The highlight of the event is the street parade on Whit Sunday, which sees over 5,000 people from 70 countries brought together by music, dance and the arts. A children's carnival and a variety of parties provide entertainment for all the family.

The self-proclaimed 'oldest beer festival in the world' is taking place again this year from 24 May to 4 June in Erlangen in northern Bavaria. Every year, over a million people gather here to celebrate the Franconian version of the Munich Oktoberfest. A wide variety of fairground rides, delicious food and drink and many different types of beer make it great fun for young and old alike.

There is plenty on offer this weekend for music fans in Düsseldorf, the regional capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, as it hosts both the Jazz Festival and the Schumann Festival. From 25 to 27 May 2012, ninety-two top acts will be appearing at the Düsseldorf Jazz Festival, one of the biggest in Germany. The Schumann Festival, which runs until 4 June 2012, offers contemporary interpretations of works by the famous German composer of the Romantic era, Robert Schumann.

In 2012, the focus in Nuremberg is firmly on art and culture. To mark the 350th anniversary of the Academy of Fine Arts, numerous exhibitions and events are being held that document the history of the academy and the works of its current and former students. Another highlight is one of Germany's largest exhibitions on Albrecht Dürer, which runs until 2 September in the Bavarian city.