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 Schlossgrabenfest held in the centre of Darmstadt is the biggest music festival in Hessen and, with around half a million visitors, one of the largest open-air events in Germany. From 24 to 27 May 2012, around 100 acts will be offering an exciting mix of practically every style of music across four stages and two dance areas. A range of international food and drink caters both for small or larger appetites.

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.

Only 70km from Berlin is Neuruppin, the birthplace of the famous German poet Theodor Fontane. The town is hosting the Fontane Festival until 28 May 2012, which offers culturally-minded visitors an eclectic programme of music, theatre and literature. Highlights include contemporary reworkings of Fontane's works, a Fontane poetry project and a musical theatre production of the novella 'Grete Minde'.

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.

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.