Americans and travelers to the U.S. can celebrate cultural exchange and friendship between Germany and the U.S. all year long beginning Wednesday.
The German Federal Foreign Office (FFO), the Goethe Institut and the Federation of German Industry (BDI) have announced the launch of Deutschlandjahr USA-the Year of Germany-all over the U.S.
The "Wunderbar Together" initiative will bring together 200 partners for more than 1,000 events across all 50 states, beginning with an opening reception and garden party for select guests in Washington, D.C. Wednesday hosted by the Embassy of Germany.
On Thursday, four-time world champion German breakdance troupe, the Flying Bach will perform on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
Meanwhile, Boston's Harvard Kennedy School will host the tenth annual German American Conference Thursday. The event will feature more than 50 speakers, including Siemens Factor Division President, Google's Deputy Head of Global Trade Policy and members of the German Parliament.
The week-long series of flagship events will continue in Atlanta and Los Angeles Friday with a German-inspired street party and a two-night electronic music party, respectively.
The German artist collective URBANSCREEN will put on the party in Atlanta, which will include live music performances, a local youth dance troupe, a light show and the "Wiesn in a Box" mobile beer garden and food truck. The Los Angeles event will take place at the city's renowned Echo+Echoplex and Globe Theatre. Seventeen German DJs-including Tensnake, DJ Koze, and Mouse on Mars-will perform against a lighting display created by German artists.
Over the weekend, Indianapolis will play host to a Volksfest featuring live music, food and drinks, a parade and a vintage car rally.
Finally, German slacklining group One Inch Dreams will attempt to set the world record for distance walked between two hot air balloons over the mountains of Monument Valley along the Arizona-Utah border on October 9. One balloon will wave the German flag while the other will feature the American flag.
"America is not only Germany's partner but its closest partner outside of Europe," said Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in a statement. "Wunderbar Together offers us an opportunity to renew and preserve the historic bonds between our people. By celebrating German-American friendship and cultural exchange, we will facilitate increased and enhanced dialogue between Germans and Americans."
The Deutschlandjahr has previously been celebrated in several other countries dating back to 2005, including Japan, China, Brazil, and Mexico.
This year's celebration comes as more and more American travelers are flocking to Germany.
Visit WunderbarTogether.org for more information.
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