This year's Cologne Pride festival, incorporating Christopher Street Day, will be taking place from 22 June to 7 July 2013. Held over the course of nearly two weeks, the spectacle is all about the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community standing up for their rights in a demonstration march. Parades like this one have been a regular feature in Cologne since 1991 and the festival is the largest event of its kind anywhere in Europe.

And there is plenty more to discover in Cologne besides this dazzling display, particularly when it comes to the local cuisine. Tantalise your taste buds with a visit to the chocolate museum or a traditional Cologne bar where you can sample regional specialities such as himmel und ääd ('heaven and earth') or a kölsch beer fresh from the barrel.

The Thuringia region will be a veritable paradise for walkers during the Thuringian Summer of Walking from June to September 2013. During the summer months there will be a variety of events taking place in the most beautiful parts of the region. The series of events kicks off on 26 May in Ohrdruf, where hikers and ramblers will have their appetite whetted for the many themed walks that lie ahead. With 23 quality-certified walking trails of varying levels of difficulty, Thuringia is the ideal region to enjoy the simple pleasures of walking and the great outdoors.

From 2 to 7 July 2013 it's time to get 'on board' on Sylt as the island hosts the annual Kitesurf World Cup. The elite of the kite-surfing world will be coming together for a truly unique showdown. While the pros perform tricks and defy nature, navigating the unruly waves in a show of sporting prowess, spectators can watch in amazement from the beaches of this beautiful North Sea island.

With nearly 40km of beach to explore, the island's western shore is also a fantastic spot to witness Mother Nature's daily ritual of high and low tide. And if the tide happens to be out, then it's the perfect opportunity to take a walk along the Wadden Sea mudflats, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.

In the summer of 1988 Munich welcomed the first ever Tollwood Festival back when it was still a week-long event. This year marks its 25th anniversary, and since opening the festival has grown to nearly 30,000m² in size. These days the summer festival is part of Munich's cultural identity and you can experience it for yourself from 26 June to 21 July 2013. Every year up to 900,000 people visit the Olympic Park site to enjoy the extensive programme of music, theatre and shows spread across numerous stages. The cultural celebrations are rounded off with the 'market of ideas' where you can find bazaars and culinary specialities from every corner of the world.

Fans of equestrian sport will be gathering in Aachen from 21 to 30 June for the 2013 CHIO festival. Riders and their horses will be demonstrating their skills in five different disciplines. This equestrian event of international standing has been named the world's best tournament on several occasions. In addition to various sporting highlights, the accompanying entertainment also includes sensational shows for all the family.

North Rhine-Westphalia has plenty more to offer in the way of sport, including the German Football Route that takes in iconic sites of the national and international game.

At this year's film nights on the Elbe movie-goers will once again be enjoying summer evenings under open skies with views of the beautiful Dresden skyline. From 27 June to 25 August 2013, around 50 films will be shown in the city on Europe's largest mobile cinema screen. But it's not just movie nights that are on offer here: the screen will also serve as a giant backdrop for ten sensational concerts.

Visitors to the largest open-air cinema festival in Germany can look forward to a host of other attractions in Dresden including Zwinger Palace, the Semper Opera House and the Church of Our Lady.

Movie buffs can also enjoy film nights on Theaterplatz square in Chemnitz from 4 July to 1 September.

The 2013 season marks the start of a new cycle for the Störtebeker Festival on the island of Rügen. From 21 June 2013, performances of 'The Beginning of a Legend' will present new stories about the adventures of pirate Klaus Störtebeker. With 150 cast and crew, four ships, 30 horses and a host of special effects, this family event at the Ralswiek open-air theatre on the Great Jasmund Lagoon promises to be a theatre experience to remember. There is also an opportunity to watch eagles, falcons and buzzards in free flight at the 'Kings of the Air' show. The firework display every evening is a real highlight.

The island of Rügen with its seaside resorts of Binz and Sellin is an ideal destination for wellness holidays. However, the scenic highlights of the island's nature reserves are also well worth discovering and include the famous Cape Arkona.

Germany is celebrating a number of anniversaries in 2013, including the bicentenary of the Battle of the Nations – which took place outside Leipzig in 1813 – and the centenary of the monument built to commemorate the battle. This year's events marking the critical turning point in the Napoleonic Wars are all about commemorating, celebrating and participating. The programme features exhibitions, talks and music events that explore historical, religious and political themes. Children and young people can learn all about the battle on an activity tour.

The highlight of the double celebration is the commemorative week in October entitled 'Leipzig 1813 – 1913 – 2013. A Landmark of European History', which focuses on the peaceful coexistence of nations.

At 91 metres in height, the Battle of the Nations monument is one of the largest monuments in Europe and was voted one of Germany's Top 100 sights.

Every year spectators and participants enjoy a unique mix of competitive action, fantastic running, unspoilt scenery and holiday atmosphere at the EWE Nordseelauf run. The 12th EWE Nordseelauf will be taking place beside the North Sea from 15 to 22 June 2013 with eight sections from Borkum to Cuxhaven. It's up to the runners whether they run all of the stages or just individual sections or single legs – the main thing is the taking part. The Nordseelauf also sends out a message of anti-violence every year, doubling as a protest run against violence in society.

The event is a fantastic opportunity to see the natural scenery of the UNESCO World Heritage Lower Saxony Wadden Sea at close hand and can easily be combined with a holiday on Germany's coast.

Music theatre is spectacularly brought to life every year at the opera festival in Munich, the most traditional festival of its kind in the world. From 27 June to 31 July, the 2013 Munich Opera Festival at the Bavarian State Opera will focus on two composers celebrating an anniversary this year, Richard Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi. Discounted tickets are available for families on family afternoons, and also for young people, who can purchase cheap tickets through the Junges Publikum programme.

The anniversaries of Richard Wagner and Giuseppe Verdi are being celebrated throughout the year in Germany. For the 2013 Wagner Year , special concerts are taking place across the country from Leipzig to Bayreuth.