White-knuckle rollercoasters, beer tents full of cheer and fun for the whole family – visitors can expect all this and more at the Rheinkirmes – the biggest funfair on the Rhine – which runs until 22 July 2012 in Düsseldorf. Hundreds of rides and fairground stalls and a grand firework finale transform the meadows on the banks of the Rhine into a sea of colourful lights.

The 220km Heidschnuckenweg from Hamburg-Fischbek to Celle is now open to walkers. Named after the Heidschnucke sheep that graze in the local area, the trail provides a great way for the whole family to explore the natural beauty of the Lüneburg Heath and its wildlife park. The Heidschnuckenweg is the only trail north of the Harz mountains that has been certified by the German Ramblers' Association.

Visitors to Ehrenbreitstein Fortress near Koblenz, one of the largest preserved fortresses in Europe, now have an opportunity to learn all kinds of interesting facts about wine, viniculture and wine aromas. As well as finding out more about the six Rhineland-Palatinate wine regions – Palatinate, Rheinhessen, Moselle, Middle Rhine, Nahe and Ahr – visitors can also sample the wines in the vinothek.

The Thurn and Taxis Palace Theatre Festival, an open-air spectacular featuring musicals, ballet and plays, is taking place on 16 July 2012 at St. Emmeram Palace in Regensburg. For one long summer's evening, this most magnificent of palaces becomes a vibrant and glamorous venue for a fantastic programme of music and the arts.

Steinfurth, just outside Bad Nauheim, is the oldest rose village in Germany and boasts some glorious parks. It also provides the venue for the Rose Festival, ending 16 July 2012. This romantic flower is, of course, the focus of the festival. As well as a rose market, rose show and a rose museum, visitors can look forward to a large marquee on the festival grounds and a programme of events for young and old alike.

Thousands of children are currently playing the starring role at the annual Tänzelfest in Kaufbeuren, on until 23 July 2012. The festival, the oldest of its kind in Bavaria, is best known for the colourful pageant during which children re-enact the town's history dressed in historical costume. This unique spectacle and the grand firework finale are particularly popular with families.

Every summer, the seventy steps outside St. Mary's Cathedral and the Church of St. Severus in Erfurt serve as a magnificent stage for fantastic theatre. The Cathedral Steps Theatre Festival, on this year until 29 July 2012, once again offers a programme of concerts and plays in the open air. It traditionally starts with a love song as the opening aria, given the perfect accompaniment by the Erfurt Theatre ensemble.

Lovers of fine food and music will be in their element at the 'musical picnic' at Schloss Wackerbarth in Radebeul, Saxony on 15 July 2012. The Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra and the beautiful gardens provide the perfect mix of music and natural beauty. However, the Schloss Wackerbarth wine estate is well worth a visit at any time – not only does it offer some of the most beautiful vineyard views in the Saxony wine region, it is also one of Germany's landmarks of wine culture.

The Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Elizabeth are making an appearance in Germany! On 15 July 2012, there will be a rendezvous of these two gargantuan cruise liners as they enter the port of Hamburg together for the very first time. Family entertainment and fireworks in the evening round off the royal visit and make this a day to remember!

The Duhnen Mudflat Races are taking place in Cuxhaven on 15 July 2012. At this famous equestrian event, jockeys and their horses compete in thrilling races across the mudflats of the Wadden Sea. The accompanying entertainment programme offers plenty of variety with skydiving displays, live music and equestrian-themed attractions.