In local newspapers (Zeitungen), magazines (Zeitschriften), and brochures (Broschüren), schedules for these events might be published several months ahead.
If you’re going into a movie theater (Kino), you’ll find small printed symbols on the posters which tell you about the Jugendschutzgesetz - the youth protection law. If the movie’s poster says frei ab 14 Jahren, then you’ve got to be at least 14 years old to get into that movie.
Even smaller town will have Theater, Opern, Museen, and Konzertsäle: theaters, operas, museums, and concert halls. It’s best to buy your Theaterkarten (theater tickets) in advance, in case the performance is sold out (ausverkauft) on the day of the performance.
If you live there, you might buy an Abonnement (a subscription to season tickets). If you get to the theater at the last minute and still don’t have tickets, check at the Abendkasse counter to see if there are any still available.
At a concert or play, the seating is described as Parkett if it’s near the orchestra, Loge if it’s a box seat, 1. Rang if it’s the first balcony, Balkon if it’s the center of the first balcony, and Gallerie if it’s the gallery. If your ticket says Reihe 7, Platz 10, then your exact seat is row 7, seat 10.
At nicer concerts, you’ll leave your hat, coat, and bag at the Garderobe: the checkroom. During the summer, many people enjoy a more casual experience at a Freilichttheater.
Large cities have a Zoo, also called a Tiergarten.
At different times of the year, large and small towns have a Musikfest, a Filmfest, a Kunstfest, and just about any other kind of Fest you can imagine. Just add the word Fest to your favorite form of entertainment: Tanzfest, Sportfest, and so forth.
A town will have a yearly Stadtfest, and a village will have an annual Dorffest. A group of students from the same school can organize a Schulfest.
Several times a week, there will be a Markt, which is like an ordinary farmer’s market with fruits and vegetables. But once a year, there’s a Jahrmarkt, also called Volksfest, which is like a carnival. A Zirkus will come to town from time to time.
Some celebrations are regional: München is of course known for its Oktoberfest. Around the city of Köln, the Mardi Gras celebration is known as Karneval, but in southern Germany, it’s called Fasching.
At a Dorffest, the streets in the center of the village may be closed to car traffic, and tables will be set up outdoors. There will be Musik and Tanz, Bier and Wein, and lots of fun conversation. This friendly, relaxed, and congenial atmosphere is called Gemütlichkeit and is some of the best fun you’ll ever have!
