Germany's Top Five

Get theater in Recklinghausen

Established after the Second World War, the annual summer festival at the Ruhrfestspielhaus in Recklinghausen has a long tradition of bringing international theater, music and dance to this industrial region of Germany. Headlining the 2005 festival is Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's Minna Von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's Fortune, starring Isabelle Huppert and Pascal Bongard (May 3-7). Additional highlights include Henrik Ibsen's tragic tale Hedda Gabler (May 10-13), the dazzling circus production Nomade - At Night Sky is Endless (June 7-12) and an eclectic ten-day cabaret festival (May 16-26). Some of the productions are in languages other than German -- French and English, for example. Some, like the puppeteers Mummenschanz, are language free.

Get gay pride in Dresden

Initiated after the fall of the Berlin wall, Dresden's Christopher Street Day gay pride parade on June 4 takes to the streets for the 11th time in 2005. There will be a parade through the city's center, followed by a street party. Other activities include films (short, feature and documentary) and a theater performance.

Get rock at Nürburgring

The mammoth Rock am Ring at the Nürburgring race track is one of the biggest rock festivals in Germany. This year the event celebrates its 20th birthday with an impressive line-up headlined by supergroup REM. The June 3-5 weekend features a host of bands on three main stages, including the legendary Iron Maiden, shock rocker Marilyn Manson, Green Day, Incubus, The Prodigy, Slipknot, Slayer, Mötley Crüe, Chemical Brothers, The Hives, Garbage, Hellacopters, Sonic Youth, Maroon 5 and Velvet Revolver. After years of abstinence, punk rock legend Billy Idol returns on the festival stage. Rock am Ring is as much about the atmosphere as it is about the music and the green area around the race track becomes a little camping village of its own during the festival weekend.

Get wine in Munich

From June 2 until June 5, the Olympic Stadium in Munich will be transformed into an international wine world of experience. The Munich World of Wine will offer those interested in wine the opportunity to get to know and compare wines from "Australia to Uruguay." For this purpose there will be a tasting world in the Olympic stadium arena with wine presentations by the producing countries from Europe and overseas.

Get populist art in Frankfurt

The Nordic Institute for Contemporary Art launched Populism, an exhibition project in four European cities exploring the relationships between contemporary art and current populist cultural and political trends in the spring of 2005. The Populism project tries to formulate concrete spaces for experience, reflection, and discussion linked to a contemporary political and cultural phenomenon that is as complex as it is widespread. The Frankfurter Kunstverein in Frankfurt am Main is one of the museums taking part. Populism includes new works and projects by around 40 international artists and artist groups, bringing together challenging works in a multitude of artistic strategies. The exhibit will run through Sept. 4.