As is the tradition the Saturday evening before Schwörmontag ('Oath Monday'), the cathedral city of Ulm will be hosting the Serenade of Lights on the Danube. When darkness falls over the Baden-Württemberg city in the Danube valley on 20 July 2013, thousands of floating lanterns will be released from ships onto the river, forming a sea of lights that stretches for miles – a scene that will stay long in the memory of visitors young and old. This enchanting event culminates in a dazzling fireworks display shooting up from a raft on the Danube, bringing a blend of excitement and romance to the night.

The atmosphere is made all the more delightful by the array of food & drink and the wine stalls set up on the riverbank.

The city of Potsdam, the erstwhile summer retreat of the Prussian kings, will once again be captivating visitors with its magnificently illuminated palaces and parklands. Now in its 15th year, Potsdam Palaces Night on 17 August 2013 creates a very special ambience for guests to experience the enchanting scenery in romantic Sanssouci Park. A dazzling programme of music, theatre, dance and literature is rolled out across more than ten stages. For art enthusiasts there is an exquisite art market, while the best chefs in Berlin and Potsdam are on hand to indulge food lovers.

For more than six decades the Bad Hersfeld Festival has been producing one breathtaking theatrical spectacle after another. Every year between mid-June and early August, world-famous musicals and plays are performed on a 1,400m² open-air stage set amid Europe's biggest Romanesque church ruins. This year's programme, running from 15 June to 11 August, features plays such as Nathan the Wise and The Three Musketeers.

Besides being home to this theatre festival, the eastern region of Hessen also boasts excellent opportunities for hiking and cycling. For example, there's the Fulda Cycle Route stretching northwards to Kassel and southwards to the baroque town of Fulda.

In India they have a very special way of celebrating the arrival of spring, by throwing coloured powder all over each other. 'Holi' is the festival of colours, and one of the country's most important festivities.

From May to September you can experience this Indian custom for yourself in 13 different German cities. The celebrations were a real hit in 2012, helping to establish the Festival of Colours on Germany's events calendar. Tickets are selling fast but some are still available for Dresden, Karlsruhe and Leipzig
among other cities.

On 25 August 2013 hundreds of thousands of people will be heading to Germany's 'longest wine bar' to join in the German Wine Route fun day. Now in its 28th year, this annual event sees the road from Bockenheim to Schweigen closed to motorised traffic and turns around 85 kilometres of the German Wine Route into a beautiful cycle route traversing lots of winegrowing villages.

During the eight-hour event visitors are free to cycle, skate or simply stroll along the route. And there's no chance of getting hungry or thirsty, with the local vineyards and restaurants serving wine and culinary delicacies from the wayside stalls.

Wacken Open Air (WOA) is back with a vengeance at the beginning of August. WOA is not only the world's biggest heavy metal event but also the largest three-day open-air festival in Germany. The festival now attracts more than 75,000 people a year and is taking place from 1 to 3 August in 2013. Metalheads of every age will be flocking from all four corners of the globe to the little village of Wacken in Schleswig-Holstein for the 24th edition of this unforgettable spectacle.

The 2013 line-up features 88 big-name bands including Motörhead and Subway to Sally. And with Deep Purple and Alice Cooper on the bill, the upcoming festival will be playing host to two genuine legends of the rock/metal genre. Another coup for the festival: Rammstein have confirmed that they will be making their Wacken debut!

The celebrations lined up for the Schwörmontag ('Oath Monday') holiday in Ulm on 22 July 2013 will once again send waves through the city that boasts the world's tallest church tower. Whether it's the mayor making his Schwörfeier oath, the magnificent Nabada river procession on the Danube, or an evening of diverse entertainment at the Hockete in the old quarter – you can't fail to enjoy this special day in the university city in Baden-Württemberg. During the Schwörfestival the evening before, music stars such as Tim Bendzko, Christina Stürmer and Glasperlenspiel rock the stage in the famous minster square. There are also plenty of stalls serving a wide range of food and drink from sausages to schnitzel, beer to wine – everyone will find something to tickle their taste buds.

Germany has a growing reputation as a culinary destination and is proving just how diverse and sophisticated German cuisine can be. A panel of 936 critics, including renowned chef Paul Bocuse, has selected The World's 50 Best Restaurants for 2013.

Among this year's winners are eight restaurants from the German-speaking world. Gracing the top ten for the first time is Joachim Wissler's Vendôme in Bergisch Gladbach near Cologne. Another German establishment makes 30th position: Aqua in Wolfsburg headed by Michelin-star chef Sven Elverfeld. 42nd place goes to Schloss Schauenstein in Fürstenau, while La Vie in Osnabrück ranks 62nd. The Schwarzwaldstube gourmet paradise in Baiersbronn is placed 83rd, closely followed by Tantris in Munich.

On 7 July 2013, experienced runners have another chance to conquer the 1284m-high Schauinsland mountain. The summit is the most prominent peak in the southern Black Forest and has been the location of the race's finishing line since 2003. The challenging route covers approx. 10.5 kilometres and climbs around 957 metres.

The Schauinsland runners set off from the beautiful city of Freiburg, one of the Historic Highlights of Germany. There's lots to see and do there besides this spectacular display of athleticism. Whether it's visiting the now internationally recognised Freiburg Minster or tucking into a delicious slice of the region's famous Black Forest gateau, Freiburg has something for everyone.

From 20 to 22 June 2013, participants in the Donau Classic vintage car rally will drive roughly 600km through the Donaumoos basin, the prehistoric Danube valley, the Altmühl valley and the Hallertau countryside. The car enthusiasts are in for an unforgettable drive as they wind their way through the breathtaking scenery of the Bavarian Danube region. For the past seven years, the Donau Classic – with its starting field of 200 vehicles – has been one of the most spectacular classic car rallies in Germany. Events are centred around Ingolstadt on the Danube, where there will be an array of vehicles that represent milestones of automotive history.

However, the Danube valley is not the exclusive reserve of motoring fans, of course; the region also presents ample opportunities for cyclists, hikers and other nature lovers to indulge their passions.