Germans celebrate Easter in a big way. Some traditions -- such as the Easter Bunny or Easter Egg Hunts -- are familiar to those from the U.S. or the U.K. Other traditions, like the Easter Egg Tree or Easter Bonfires, might be less well-known. Children typically get a few weeks off from school and the actual Easter weekend, beginning with the work holiday Good Friday (Karfreitag) and ending with Holy Monday (Ostermontag), another work holiday, presents you with the perfect opportunity to get out of town or to explore parts of town you haven't seen yet. Here are few suggestions for places to go and things to do in or near Dresden. Visit our Day Trips page for more ideas.

Easter Crafts Exhibition Dippoldiswalde

Easter Crafts Exhibition Dippoldiswalde
March 15, 2008 – April 20, 2008
Tanner, City and Regional Museum in Dippoldiswalde

Lohgerber-, Stadt- und Kreismuseum (Tanner, City & Regional Museum)
Freiberger Str. 18
01744 Dippoldiswalde
Tel: 03504/612418
Fax: 03504/612418

Hours of Operation:
Tuesday - Friday: 10am – 5pm
Saturday, Sunday: 1pm – 5pm
Holidays: 1pm – 5pm
www.lohgerbermuseum.de

Getting There: Driving – 31 mins
Bus: approx. 30 mins

• Crafts exhibit featuring a variety of folk artists from the Eastern Ore Mountain (Osterzgebirge) region.
  
  
• On display: wooden, carved Easter rabbits in a variety of sizes (the smallest is 8cm, the largest 1.4m) and decorative Easter eggs
  
  
• Artistic carving representing the crucifiction and resurrection of Christ
  
  
• Children can participate in hands-on craft projects on Saturday and Sunday during the Easter weekend (March 22-23).
  

Easter in the Museum

Points of Interest

Easter in the Museum
Japanisches Palais
March 24, 2008
10:30am

Museum für Völkerkunde Dresden
Japanisches Palais
Palaisplatz 11
01097 Dresden
Tel. +49(0) 351 / 8144-860
Fax +49(0) 351 / 8144-888

Hours of Operation:
Tuesday – Sunday: 10am - 6pm
www.voelkerkunde-dresden.de

• Guided tour of the museum
• Follow-up with Easter crafts for children
  

Schloss Burgk - 7th Medieval Easter Spectacular

Schloss Burgk - 7th Medieval Easter Spectacular
March 22 – 24, 2008 – Freital

Schloss Burgk Freital
Altburgk 61
01705 Freital
Tel: 0351/649 15 62
Fax: 0351/641 83 10
www.freital.de

Getting There:
Driving: 20 min
Train: 10 min

• Over 50 stands with with medieval-style handiwork/crafts
  
  
• Jugglers, fire-eaters and lots of hands-on entertainment (candlemaking, face-painting, pottery, Easter egg-painting, etc.) for the entire family
  
  
• Historical taverns with traditional dishes to try out
  

Königstein Fortress - Easter Egg Hunt

Königstein Fortress - Easter Egg Hunt
March 23, 2008

Festung Königstein gGmbH
01824 Königstein
Tel: (03 50 21) 6 46 07
Fax: (03 50 21) 6 46 09
www.festung-koenigstein.de

Getting There:
Driving: 38 mins
Train: 43 mins, every 30 mins

• Captain Clemens the Nightwatchman invites the kids to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt in the gate lodge’s mysterious cellar.
  
  
• Five different, 20-minute egg hunts to choose from: 9:30-9:50am / 10:30-10:50am / 12:30-12:50pm / 2:30-2:50pm / 4:30-4:50pm
  
  
• Price of admission is the normal admission price to the fortress:
  Adults –  6€;
  Children under 6, schoolchildren & students, handicapped persons – 4€;
  Family card (2 adults/4 children under 16) – 15€;
  Mini-Family card (1 adult/2 children under 16) – 9€

Bautzen - Traditional Easter Egg Roll

Bautzen - Traditional Easter Egg Roll
March 23, 2008
12:30pm

http://www.bautzen.de/default.asp?iid=533&mid=0&uid=0
(General information about the city in English, specifics regarding egg rolling only in available in German)

Getting There:
Driving: 45 mins
Train: 40-50 mins.

• "Osterstadt“ (Easter City) is one of Bautzen’s nicknames, making it one of the best places in the region to celebrate the holiday. The tradition of rolling eggs down the slope of the Protschenberg Mountain has been a popular attraction for centuries, although these days hard-boiled eggs have been replaced by plastic balls. Literally thousands flock to Bautzen in order to participate, even in bad weather!
  
  
• Eggs“ (plastic balls) for rolling can either be purchased before the event at the Tourist Information Center Bautzen-Budyšin or at the event itself (4 balls cost 2€)
  
  
• Parking available

Easter Bonfires (Osterfeuer) - Cable Island

Easter Bonfires (Osterfeuer)
March 22, 2008
6pm – Magdeburg – Cable Island Water Sport & Beach Resort / Neustädter Lake

Cable Island
"Neustädter See"
Barleber Straße
39126 Magdeburg
Tel (Lake):  0391 - 25 35 927
Tel (Office): 0391 - 63 60 366
Fax: 0391 - 66 26 953
Mobile:    0173 - 29 96 698
www.cable-island.de

Getting There: Driving: 2 hours

Taking place either on Easter Saturday or Sunday, many Germans gather together to celebrate around an Easter Bonfire. The bonfire tradition outdates the Christian holiday celebration and dates back to pagan times; however, nowadays Easter bonfires are more of an excuse to do some early Spring grilling and get together and drink beer with friends.

• Free admission
• Entertainment program

Easter Bonfires (Osterfeuer) - Inselgelände (Island Area)

March 23, 2008, 8pm – Frauenhain bei Gröditz   - Inselgelände (Island Area)

Getting there (Driving: 50 mins): Dresden Exit Thiendorf A13:

- in Thiendorf to the B98 towards Großenhain
- in Großenhain to the B101 towards Elsterwerda
- in Frauenhain left towards Ortszentrum

• heated tent, party music (70s, 80s, 90s, etc), grilling
• admission free until 9:30pm, 3€ after 9:30pm