Art venues and museums in the Ruhr region regularly present selections of their fine pieces. Unable to show their extensive collections as a whole due to lack of space, these opportunities reveal well researched and comprehensive insights. Contemporary to traditional, see also works from across the globe.

Something special takes place nearly the whole year through in Ruhr. Such happenings include celebrations to mark an opening, markets or a one off event such as a concert or festival. Communities pick up on such events, creating gatherings large and small. They can be psoted in this article.

The Festival of the Jazz Offensive Essen (JOE) takes place in the Ruhr Metropolis. The event will be hosted in the Katakomben Theater, Giradethaus in Essen. The association was founded in the summer of 1995 by a few jazz musicians and enthusiasts.

The Park Lights event takes place in the Gruga Park in the city of Essen every year, brightening up the late winter and early spring evenings. This magnificent attraction creates a magical dreamworld through which many silent souls meander into the night. A must!

The host of this year's badminton championship is Mühlheim an der Ruhr. The sport has become more popular in recent years and German players strong in championships. For those that love the speed of the sport, the event is a great pleasure to experience.

Nearly a million people visit the popular Palmkirmes every year, which is deemed to be a prelude to the funfair season in the Ruhr. Almost two thousand metres of attractions from more than one hundred and seventy rides, galleries and concession stands offer merriment.

Some sixty to seventy concerts and recitals can be experienced every year between May and July. Performances of this unique festival take place in numerous locations across the Ruhr with renowned masters, young talent and a wide variety of music.

One of the oldest traditional local festivals in Germany, the Bochumer Maiabendfest (May eve festival) originated in 1388. Held annually in the town centre of Bochum, it is a true open air event with food, beverages, entertainment, street marches and fun.

Each year during May and June Recklinghausen changes into a world stage for productions of famous directors and performances of awarded actors. Furthermore, the festival gives young talents the chance to show their skills. Fringe and English performances are available.

The International Short Film Festival Oberhausen takes place once again this year. More than 500 films originating from 55 countries will take part in the screenings. Some 64 films from 26 countries are in the international competition, with nearly half of them world premieres. Mostly OmU.

The Moers Festival reveals a long tradition of Jazz music and today reflects upon what is happening around the world of improvised music. Performances combine the scope and richness of established artists, new names and new formations during Whitsun.

The annual Rhine Ruhr marathon in Duisburg was started in 1981. Some 6.000 runners challenge each other along a route that takes a large loop through various inner city suburbs and around the intersection of the rivers Rhine and Ruhr to include the impressive harbour.

The funfair is held from Wednesday afternoon to the following Monday night during the feast of Corpus Christi. At that time of year the center of Sterkrade turns into a place of hustle and bustle, laughter and fun attract about one million visitors each and every year. Fun for all the family.

Located in the Revierpark Wischlingen, the first of the Ruhr Reggae Summer annual festivals gathers a fantastic collection of performers on stage. Dortmund in the Ruhr Metropolis offers a huge arena with beach area, space for camping, foods that have included vegan.

Enjoy a long summer evening when visitors allow themselves to be captivated by the unique atmosphere of the night and go on an expedition through the region. ExtraSchicht is when breathtaking industrial settings become stages for spectacular productions.

This large funfair of the lower Rhine region awaits visitors with some two hundred booths and funfair rides. The mixture of thrill and sundry delicacies unite young and old with fun, laughter and a traditional alcoholic drink Fisternölleken. Fisternölleken (corn schnapps with sugar and raisins) are the order of the day.

Apparently its Europe's largest music festival, its free and has taken place annually for some 30 years. Bochum Total offers incredible music from dozens and dozens of bands, both German and international, new faces as well as established performers. One of the great events in the Ruhr Metropolis.

Germany’s largest dance festival, ParookaVille is an incredible electronic music festival. Some 40,000 citizens will gather each day to enjoy themselves, each other and over 200 national and international DJs performing on 11 stages, one a momunental 110 metres wide.

True to its name, each of the several stages of the music festival in the Westfalenpark Dortmund, Ruhr is named after a fruit. A unique atmosphere awaits spectators with a huge range of artists and performers, as well as a delicious variety of food that is on offer. A true open air extravaganza.

Gay pride is big in Germany with the largest Christopher Street Day (CSD) event in the Ruhr region held in Essen. A wonderful mix of demonstration, service, parade and stage performances, the festival attracts people from far and wide. The annual event has offered a colourful, welcoming atmosphere since 2004.

Bochum hosts the annual Sparkassen Giro bike race with accompanying events on one day during the middle of the summer. Many races take place on the inner city circuit. Professional cyclists provide terrific entertainment as do amateurs who join in the fun and take part in numerous races.

Cranger Kirmes is the second largest folk festival in Germany, commencing on the first Friday in August. Loved by almost four million locals and visitors alike, it offers roller coasters, ghost trains, water rides, big wheel as well as candy, beer or sausages.

The second of the Ruhr Reggae Summer festivals takes place around the open air swimming pool at the Ruhrstadion in Mülheim an der Ruhr. With camping, swimming, bazaar and, of course, the stage with an impressive line up of bands and performers. A fun and joyful event in the Ruhr Metropolis.

A rock music festival takes place late summer in a city of tents on the shore of lake Kemnade in Bochum. In addition to concerts, there are also many other performances to be enjoyed such as cabaret, comedy and stage.

The Triennale is characterised by its distinctive mix of genres. Performances, dance, opera, theatre, concerts and art attract many fascinating national and international performers and participants. Revitalising disused industrial buildings, events are held in exciting venues.

The light festival (Lichterfest) held during August in the Westfalenpark Dortmund is exactly that. Strings of lights some six kilometres long and almost one hundred thousand lights and lamps of varying sizes shapes and sizes form the major attractions of the event.

With a quarter of a million enthsiasts enjoying music in and around the Kennedyplatz in Essen, some 20 years on, this festival is firmly on the event calender. Bands and artists on several stages offer hour upon hour of great performances for a full three days traditionally during September.

The hugely popular CSD, Christopher Street Day attracts tens of thousands to Dortmund in the Ruhr Metropolis each year. The event sees itself as a healthy mix of demonstration and celebration. There is usually a parade, stage performances, a service as well as a late night street party.

For a few years, the LEAF Festival has been taking place in the Ruhr Metropolis. An exciting event which is designed to bring people together on the themes of languages, education, arts and friendship (LEAF). It will be presented in Mülheim an der Ruhr by Interkultur e.V.

This annual marathon has been held since as long ago as 1963. It sees participants chasing each other twice on an asphalt route around the picturesque Baldeneysee in Essen Ruhr. The day also sees a relay marathon taking the same route. With such views and atmosphrere, its a great event.

A curious event designed to reveal how modern and futuristic industry functions. Manufacturing and processing is still faced with a poor image that can lead to beig held in low esteem by the general public. The sector also battles with a young and skilled workforce attracted to other cleaner, more inspiring sectors.

The Essen Light Weeks create a magical atmosphere through the city centre. Many motifs bring light into the darkest period of winter and magnificent bright displays hang above the heads of people strolling by. The Christmas Market runs parallel for several weeks from mid November until Yuletide.

Experience the true German Christmas tradition this year at a marvellous Christmas market in the Ruhr Metropolis. Stand below an imposing 45 metre high tree and taste the scent of Yuletide a mere one hour flight from many of Europe's airports. All possible on a magical Christmastime trip to the Ruhr.

A wonderful family tradition takes place annually between Thanksgiving and Christmas in rural regions of the United States. It is that time of year when people choose and cut down their own Christmas tree and transport it home to decorate. Americans and other expats can fell their own Christmas tree in the Ruhr too!

The Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt) in Duisburg is accompanied by beautifully bright lit trees, creations and strings of lamps. One hundred wooden stalls create a more intimate feel, awaiting visitors with mulled wine (Glühwein), tasty delights, a big wheel and skating rink.

With a different international theme each year, Essen creates one of the most magical experiences in Germany. Over 250 stands are gathered on several squares and streets while incredible light installations create a most romantic atmosphere through the inner city.

One of the best Christmas markets in the Ruhr region of Germany is in Bochum. The medieval market square and the region’s only Flying Santa, artists who soar above the heads of kids and adults alike on a wonderful sleigh drawn by reindeer, are just two attractions.

Dortmund inspires with possibly the largest Christmas tree in the world. Placed in the heart of the city on the old market place (Alter Markt), 48,000 lamps adorn this 45 metres high construction. Bathe in the wonderful scents of a fine Christmas market in Germany.

Fortunately for expats, the Ruhr Metropolis reveals probably the highest density of Christmas markets in the world. A delightful, highly popular German tradition. A flying Santa, the world’s largest Christmas tree, woodland Christmas village, impressive illuminations and diverse events are highlights.