The 820th Hafengeburtstag Hamburg (Port Birthday Hamburg) ended Sunday, May 10, 2009 - this port event attracted last weekend more than 1.2 million visitors from Germany and abroad.
The Hamburg port festival goes back to Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa, who on 7 May 1189 granted Hamburgians a concession guaranteeing exemption from Customs dues for vessels between the city and the North Sea. This date has since been regarded as the Port of Hamburg's birthday.
Hamburg offered an attractive program on and along the River Elbe from Oevelgönne Museum Harbor via the St. Pauli Landing Stages as far as Baumwall.
Among the highlights were the arrival and departure parades of over 300 craft from all over the world, large sailing ships, museum ships, yachts and motor yachts and other boats; the Dragon boat regattas; the grand fireworks display on Saturday evening; and the unique tug ballet on Saturday afternoon.
Along the 3.5 kilometers of the show promenade between the Fish Auction Hall and Baumwall, 500 show folk offered games, sideshows and marine delicacies.
Website: http://www.hafengeburtstag.de/Content_en/start_e.htm