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Annual major events

JANUARY

The best cure for a New Year’s Eve hangover is to take part in the popular Neujahrsbaden (New Year’s Day Swim) on January-1 in Wenningstedt. Whether you are a local or a visitor, whether in your bathing or your birthday suit, this icy pleasure has never failed to breathe some life back into a tired reveler after a hard night’s celebrating. Many viewers come to convince themselves of the cold North Sea’s healing powers – not without a glass of hot punch, though.

The culinary firmament above Sylt shines brighter than ever. Michelin stars twinkle in the sky, guiding the way to the Sylt Gourmet Festival. This event will be scheduled around mid/end of January, an five top Sylt gastronomes invite you to explore their culinary world of finest delicacies.

FEBRUARY

According to old Frisian custom, 21 February is the day of the Biikebrennen celebrations. For miles around, the evening sky glows by the light of bonfires in all of Sylt’s villages to drive out the winter. While the biiken (Frisian for ‘piles of wood’) burn slowly down, people feast on the traditional Biike dish – kale with sausage and fried potatoes – which is served in almost every Sylt restaurant and home that evening.

MARCH

The Syltlauf (Sylt run/race) mid of March attracts distance runners from far and wide. More than 1,300 runners set off from Hörnum to List this year. The distance from Sylt’s southernmost tip up to the island’s northern end is exactly 33 thousand and 333 metres.

Around Easter Time / approx. +- APRIL

A day before Easter locals and guests gather around the traditional Easter eve bonfire in Hörnum.

One day later on Easter Sunday, Kampen’s Strönwai, also known as the “Whiskeymeile” (Whiskey Street) hosts the traditional Ostereierlauf (Easter egg-and-spoon race). While the little ones balance their fragile freight on a tablespoon, Kampen’s restaurateurs slip into their famous bunny costumes.

Later on, everyone gathers round the Easter bonfire lit on the beach at Buhne 16 next to Kampen. The four Privathotels (private hotels) Landhaus Stricker, Benen-Diken-Hof, Fährhaus Sylt and Hotel Rungholt invite players to the 'Private Golf Open'. The golf tournament takes place at three different courses.

MAY

Musik am Meer: Between May and October there’s music in the North Sea air. Under the motto ‘Musik am Meer’ (music by the seaside), Westerland’s Musikmuschel resounds with the songs of the Romada Singers. In July and August, Camerata Budapest adds classical music to the daily programme.

Pure energy promises the Beach Polo World Cup in Hörnum. Ca. end of May international polo teams fight for win and glory.

The SYLT ART FESTIVAL (which took place for the first time in 2007) will take place in Keitum in early May. The festival is going to be an impressive composition of classical music and jazz, fine arts and culinary delights.

JUNE

Mid June not only a fresh sea breeze blows at the promenade in Westerland but also a breeze of garlic, rosemary, and other herbs. During the Annual Sylter Lammtage (lamb days) the promenade turns into a culinary paradise. Germany’s best Kite Surfers demonstrate spectacular maneuvers while the German Kite Surf Trophy around mid of June.

When the so-called ‘Galgen’ (gallows) are put up in the east of Sylt between June and August, it is not because some criminal’s last hour has struck. The only thing swinging from these gallows is a tiny brass ring, which it is the Ringreiter’s task to snatch at a gallop by means of a lancet. This Sylt tradition reminiscent of medieval tournaments is kept up by eight clubs.

Till end of August, the InselCircus in Wenningstedt invites Sylt’s youngest visitors into its tent village – not only as spectators but also as real circus artists! In the MitmachCircus, children and young people of all ages can prove that there is a little clown, a great magician or a trapeze artist hidden inside every one of them. And for one weekend in August, when young circus artists from all over the world compete at the SOLyCIRCO Festival for the Sylt Artistes’ Award, the island becomes a Monte Carlo of the North.

JULY

For July until September, Kampen’s literature festival, the Literatur- und Klassiksommer, has invited high-profile writers to delight their audience with readings and interviews in Kaamp Hüs. The festival exists since ca. 1997. now .

The Meerkabarett returns to the island with first-class entertainment and top performers. The extraordinary cultural festival is held in the Sylt-Quelle in Rantum from July to August.

“Treasure Island” is hosted by Hörnum from July to August. The famous novel will be performed as a exciting and at the same time humorous musical about pirates, a hidden treasure and a secret map. Children and youths can participate in musical workshops.

Vintage wines and an atmospheric ambience: over a couple of days mid of July, Westerland’s promenade hosts the Winzerfest (wine festival) with tasting stands from various wine-growing areas. Special highlight: the “Seefeuerwerk”, a big fireworks by the seaside.

Ship ahoy in Hörnum around mid of July. The Sylter Catamaran Club arranges its regatta with a thrilling competition on the water.

Also in July, Westerland’s Brandenburger Strand is the venue of the German Windsurfing Cup , in which the nation’s best windsurfers compete for valuable points for the title of German champion. The spectators have lots of diversions to look forward to even beyond the surf.

On the last Saturday in July, the Dorfteichfest (village-festival-by-the-pond) in Wenningstedt promises fun and games and tasty food.

In the mild summer nights of July and August, Sylt’s hot beach parties beckon you to dance the night away barefoot in the sand and flirt with the stars until sunrise. The Beach Club Westerland is one of the best-known beach parties.

Toward the end of July, the polo world meets in Keitum for the German Polo Masters.

AUGUST

Early August, the Harbour Festival in Hörnum offers a wealth of activities on land and at sea. This year it celebrates the 20th anniversary.

Early August, friends of classical music should take a seat in front of Westerland’s Musikmuschel, where Arien am Meer (arias by the seaside), an event with international soloists singing lively operetta tunes, promises a feast for the ears.

Early August, the Gospel Night at Westerland’s Musikmuschel provides ‘heavenly’ pleasures with beautiful gospels and spirituals.

A blaze of colours salutes the eye around mid of August, when the catamaran regatta Super Sail Sylt fills the sea of Westerland with sails flapping in the wind. Culinary delights and a fringe programme round off the event.

SEPTEMBER

On a wave. Kampen’s beach Buhne 16 hosts the Longboard Festival Sylt in September. The world’s best windsurfers meet in Westerland around end of September for the World Cup Sylt . They compete for world ranking points in the disciplines of wave, slalom 42 and freestyle.

The ‘Wimbledon of windsurfers’ is one of the most important windsurfing events in the world and attracts more than 170,000 spectators every year. From Brandenburger Strand you can watch the breathtaking manoeuvres of the one hundred top athletes at close quarters. When the contest is over, it’s time to celebrate in the big marquee on the promenade.

OCTOBER

Time for the Annual Beach Chair Auction in List. Discarded beach chairs will be sold by public sale and “go on pension”.

NOVEMBER

At the end of November, the cosy Christmas market season begins on the island. As usual, it is rung in by the Archsumer Weihnachtsstübchen, followed by the markets in Morsum, Keitum and Kampen.

DECEMBER

Starting mid of December an outdoor skating rink in the centre of Westerland attracts ice skaters young and old. There’s something for everyone, with events such as ‘Disco on Ice’ and ice hockey tournaments.

On 26 December, the Westerland Christmas Swim, a tradition since 1985, invites intrepid swimmers to plunge into the icy waters of the North Sea – in fancy dress, swimsuit or in the altogether. Their courage is rewarded with a certificate and a glass of hot punch. And as the several thousand viewers feel chilly just watching, you might think it best to join them for a drink.

Those who want to get some exercise before partying can take part in the Silvesterlauf (New Year’s Eve run) in Westerland. Crazy costumes are not strictly required, but they show what the run is all about: lots of fun!

The open-air New Year’s Eve Party on Westerland’s beach promenade has become a cult event. And on the beaches outside the villages, the occasional New Year rocket does burn up above the sea. Between 28 and 31 December, Sylt celebrates the longest party on the island, the Kliffmeile in Wenningstedt. On New Year’s Eve, there’s a party at Kappellplatz with a big fireworks display on the beach.

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