Johannisnacht Festival

On St. John's Eve, the people of Mainz honour Johannes Gutenberg, the best known son of the city, with a big festival. For four days around 24 June, from Friday to Monday, the city enjoys one of the biggest celebrations of the year.

On the 500th anniversary of Johannes Gutenberg's death in 1968, the then city councillor Karl Delorme who was also a book printer, suggested that the famous inventor should be remembered every year around the summer solstice. The people of Mainz liked the idea, and the Johannisnacht Festival was borne, which is now one of the highlights in the city's festival calendar.

Many of the events are directly linked to the achievements of Gutenberg who invented moveable type printing. They include the largest antiquarian book fair in Germany, special exhibitions and demonstrations at the Gutenberg Museum, as well as printing and calligraphy workshops for children.

 

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