July brings with it the start of the world's biggest shooting festival in Hanover. At the Schützenfest, visitors can expect a colourful assortment of shooting sports, traditional and racy fairground rides and lots of tasty delicacies from a range of around 80 gastronomic stalls. There's also a fantastic line-up of lively entertainment events.

The Hanover Beer Festival is famous for a tipple known locally as the 'Lüttje Lage' which is in plentiful supply and is available from all the lively party tents. In the main tent, you will find a hearty atmosphere with traditional music including all the latest chart hits. This bespoke event may not be as large as the neighbouring Berlin Beer Festival but aims to present the values and traditions of German life and cuisine.

A highlight of the Hanover shooting match at Schützenfest is the parade of the Marksmen through the city centre, which is more than a kilometre long. More than 10,000 participants from shooting clubs, worldwide brass bands, many decorated parade floats and horse-drawn carriages all culminate in forming the longest parade in Europe to the delight of thousands of spectators