A large and comprehensive festival with good crowds, but not so much to cause a queue to enter the…read moregrounds. There's a wide range of food from oysters to burgers, spreads to cheeses, and folks offering knives and pans, and naturally numerous wineries offering their wares. It's a good spot for lunch - you can get a complete meal at any of the many establishments (see the pictures for my faves!), although groups may struggle to sit together at peak lunch time. Be sure to drop by the Yelp stand to say G'day, and pick up some vouchers for samples from some of the merchants.

This is a big giant spectacle all over the downtown area. They are parades and people in costume…read more I only went once see the parade, since it was complete Mayhem. It doesn't look it but this was the street going towards the parade. There's no way to feel lonely during karneval. You have to be holed up at home to avoid people during this time in the city. Best to get into a costume and meld into the crowd.

This was the least lively market I went to which made me sad because it was the most unique. The…read moretheme was very cool with the location, and they had small vendors that I hadn't seen anywhere else. There weren't that many food options, but their speciality is the salmon!

There are six Christmas markets in Cologne, and we made it through three. This was the last one,…read morethe Harbor Christmas market. The sun started to peek through the clouds ever so briefly. There was a Ferris wheel, a pirate ship, shops, the Schokoladen museum (the most popular in town). We finally stopped for a mug of glühwein. It was hot and fragrant with spices (don't breathe in the fumes), and once it cooled slightly, it was pleasant and sweet. They do take a deposit on the mugs but we decided to keep them. With the sun just about to set, it was a pleasant stroll along the harbor to the cathedral.

From the owner: Als inhabergeführtes Unternehmen bieten wir seit über 30 Jahren Kompetenz und umfassende Erfahrung…read moreauf dem Gebiet der Durchführung kleinerer und großer Events. Unter anderem sind wir Veranstalter der Kölner Lichter und der Bierbörsen in 24 Deutschen Städten