Mainzer Johannisnacht

In the organizer's words:

St. John's Night in Mainz
In 1968, the year of the 500th anniversary of Johannes Gutenberg's death, Karl Delorme, then head of social affairs and himself a trained printer, launched the folk festival. Since then, the memory of the great inventor Johannes Gutenberg has been celebrated - particularly vividly around St. John's Day on June 24.

Art and creativity
The artists' market offers many opportunities to stroll and browse, from the Kurfürstenbrunnen to Fischtorplatz. The lovingly designed stalls offer a wide range of original, often handmade items. A wide variety of materials and ideas are used to create jewelry, clothing, decorations and gifts.

In front of the Roman Emperor, guests can enjoy a creative hands-on activity organized by the Gutenberg Museum and Foundation. Using interesting motifs and frottage techniques, visitors can create their own colorful works of art.

Street art
Be surprised where street artists appear and what they bring with them: sometimes bagpipe melodies from the "Moguntia Pipes and Drums" based on the Scottish model can be heard, sometimes a spectacle is offered with stilts or giant soap bubbles. The "Compagnie les Contes d'Asphaldt" will be out and about in the city with their mobile puppet theater.

For the first time, Mademoiselle Prrrr, dressed as a cloud, will be on the move with a tuba in the area of the artists' market on the banks of the Rhine. No Sound Experience offers unusual street dance. And Jörn Kölling will be back with his theater bicycle to talk about the life of Gutenberg.

Gutenberg, history and customs
One of the popular traditions is the "Gautschen", the baptism of the printer. This old guild custom symbolically washes away the sins of the apprenticeship years and the lead dust - in a large wooden barrel filled with water. Nowadays, media designers in particular are baptized on stage in a cheerful and lively manner. Another historical element is Preisquadräteln, a medieval dice game played by the printers' guild. It traditionally takes place on the Gutenberg stage on Saturday afternoon before the Gautschen. Not to be missed: the antiquarian book market, which this year once again invites you to browse on and around Schillerplatz and Ballplatz.

Stage program
Other typical program items include theater, cabaret, jugglers and, of course, music on the stages in the city centre.

Rhine fun
Attractive offers for the whole family await you along the entire riverbank area in front of the Electoral Palace: children's carousels, fast and high rides as well as food and drink stalls provide variety and fun at the funfair! The Ferris wheel, the colorful lights of the stands and the red illuminated castle gate show the way.

Fireworks
Four days of summer fun end on Monday evening at around 10.30 pm with a magnificent firework display over the Rhine at the height of the Electoral Palace.

Further information about the program can be found here.