Rhine In Flames

All along the Rhine River, towns will be aglow, fireworks will light the sky and bathe the water in fire, flotillas of ships will be illuminated and castles will be alive with dancing colors during the annual Rhine in Flames, which takes place near the cities of Rüdesheim and Bingen Saturday.

Rhine in Flames is one of the biggest fireworks events in the middle Rhine valley.

River boats will begin to sail off from various locations along the Rhine River at around 4 and 5 p.m. to prepare the large crowds for a romantic fireworks display in the late evening. Towns along the river, including Trechtingshausen, Rüdesheim and Assmannshausen, will create their own unique aluminous fireworks display as people stop to gaze and appreciate the flaming river.

Between 15,000 and 20,000 boat cruise tickets are sold each year — 2,500 of those tickets in Rüdesheim alone — and most tickets sell out quickly by the beginning of the year.

Gaby Shaefer, executive assistant in charge of event management of Rüdesheim tourism, said Rhine in Flames, is incomparable to any other fireworks display.

“We are the biggest and most original,” Shaefer said, “therefore, we call it Rhine in Flames — the original.”

Shaefer said the best part of the fireworks display — the finale — consists of three big fireworks displays.

“The final firework is always the biggest,” she said with a laugh. “Boom! (There’s) a big bang in the end.”

All the river boats, big and small, including cabin and hotel ships, some with dinner and music, meet in Rüdesheim and Bingen for the grand finale after their unique voyages up and down the River Rhine.

Beginning in Rüdesheim, ships parade together through the Upper Middle Rhine Valley to view castles illuminated in “bengal fire,” a burning effect, and old church ruins and historical monuments surrounded with booming fireworks, making a dinner and music boat ride just that much more romantic.

Although the best place to soak in the fireworks is from the boats, the towns along the river each have exciting festivities going on the entire weekend.

Rüdesheim and Bingen both have a great party kick-off beginning at 3 p.m. Friday to prepare guests for the fireworks on Saturday, then continues through Sunday.

“Many people come to the firework event and stay the weekend,” Shaefer said.

Festivities take place at the main market square in Rüdesheim with rock bands and wine and food stands. This year, three major wine growers set up their stands near the Niederwald monument, a statue standing 32 meters tall that can be seen from a distance overlooking the sparkling river. This is another preferred spot to camp out for a spectacular view of the fireworks. Getting up to the monument is an invigorating experience all in itself — a chair lift will take people over the rolling hills of local vineyards as they toast with a glass of Champagne that can be purchased with a lift ticket.

On top of the hill people can get comfortable around the monument as they patiently prepare for the grand finale.

Bingen also has a great party that can’t be missed. There will be food and beverage stands as well as entertainment.

For more information on available boat tickets and events, visit www.rhein-in-flammen.com.