This years Rhine in Flames will take place under the theme “Around the world - die Welt zu Gast” (the world as guest). Here is an overview of the most important details to help you navigate the weekend (including supplemental information to our previous story):

The fireworks are the cultural heart of Rhine in Flames. The towns along the Rhine were already organizing colorful firework events more than 200 years ago to honor high-ranking personalities. And in 1845, Queen Victoria, the great great grandmother of the British Queen Elizabeth II, was delighted by the atmosphere.

Rhine in Flames has now been taking place annually for over 30 years and on 5 May, six large firework displays will be set off while brightly lit boats and ships cruise the river between Linz and Bonn.

9.35pm: Opening fireworks in Linz and departure of the ship convoy

9.45pm: Fireworks in Remagen

10pm: Fireworks in Unkel

10.20pm: Fireworks in Bad Honnef

10.35pm: Fireworks in Königswinter

11.15pm: Final firework display in Bonn’s Rheinaue

The highlight will be the final fireworks on Saturday evening from 11.15pm, which will be synchronized to music from a total of five continents. The World Climate Conference COP 23, which brought many international guests to Bonn last November, encouraged the organizers to give Rhine in Flames the theme “Around the world – die Welt zu Gast” (the world as guest).

Altogether, 45 colorfully lit ships will be participating in the convoy, three of them are pure party ships. There are still some tickets available for some of the ships on the evening.

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Snack bars and fair attractions In the Rheinaue Park, the snack bars, stalls, carousels and fair rides will open at 1pm on Friday and Saturday.

Family Day is on Sunday (6 May). The market in the Rheinaue will be open from 11am to 6pm. A colorful and exciting program will be on offer for families. Rides on the attractions will be cheaper than normal and the prices for food and drinks will also be reduced.

Directly before the event on Saturday, organizers expect major traffic disruptions. Some roads will already be closed off on Saturday afternoon. There are only a few parking spaces close to the Rheinaue. Police and the city advise people to come on public transportation or by bike. Public transportation Buses and trams from the city public transportation authorities (SWB) will run according to a special plan on Friday and Saturday. Around 190 buses will be running and all city trams will be in use. Line 66 will run at more frequent intervals than usual. For your return, SWB recommends to use the following stops: “Olof-Palme-Allee”, “Heussallee/Museummeile” or “Max-Löbner-Straße” because there will be very long waiting times at the “Rheinaue” stop.

As well as the fireworks, events will take place in Bonn and the region. Stalls, carousels and traders open for business in the Rheinaue on Friday and Saturday at 1pm.

Königswinter is holding a beer garden festival in the town’s colours of red and white and Bad Honnef is celebrating the early summer spectacle with a family festival on the island of Grafenwert.

is also taking place again this year as part of Rhine in Flames. The creators of the Greenjuice Festival are offering a stage at the South Bridge to showcase well-known bands of different genres from Bonn and beyond. Live music there begins at 4pm on Friday and 3pm on Saturday.

In Linz, Remagen, Unkel, Bad Honnef, Königswinter and Bonn there are small and large stages set up as well. In Bonn’s Rheinaue alone, up to 100,000 visitors are expected.

Fires, barbecues and disposable grills are banned from the grounds. You may also not bring glass containers. Accident assistance stations are located at the exits to the grounds. There will be a central contact point for crime victims from 6pm on Saturday at the entrance to Herbert-Wehner-Platz.

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(Original text: Roland Joisten, bsb Translation: kc, ck)