How would you like to go dancing, take a mini cruise, see an art exhibition, attend a concert and watch a theater performance — all for only €16? You can do this and more during Stuttgart’s “Long Night of the Museums” on March 17 from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
The program features over 90 events located in and around downtown Stuttgart, such as concerts, performance art, boat trips on the Neckar River, theater productions and parties.
Besides exhibitions in Stuttgart’s main museums, such as the “Kunstmuseum” (art museum), Landesmuseum (Württemberg State museum), and the State Gallery, many smaller institutions and galleries will offer programs and entertainment during this long night out.
According to Maria Melber, event organizer from “Lift” Stuttgart (Stuttgart’s city magazine), many new cultural outlets were added to this year’s program. One of them includes the Pressehaus Stuttgart in Möhringen (next to Kelley Barracks).
Tour the Pressehaus
“For the first time ever, the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper invites patrons to visit the Pressehaus exclusively during the Long Night of the Museums,” Melber said.
During the event, visitors can tour one of Europe’s most modern printing facilities and also learn about the Stuttgarter Zeitung’s history. Tours of the print shop will run at 8:30, 10 and 11:30 p.m. The Pressehaus is located at Plieninger Strasse 150 (shuttle bus stop Möhringen Bahnhof).
Another first-time event is the special exhibition, Automobil und Kunst,” or automobile and art, at the Auwärter Omnibus (bus) Museum in Möhringen. The company started out as a car repair shop and is known today as an international bus company.
“This will be an interesting tour since the museum features a large collection of old-timer buses and cars,” Melber said. Tours will run from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Live music and a disc jockey will also be offered at the museum.
The museum is located at Vaihinger Strasse 151/Lautlinger Weg (U-Bahn stop Vaihinger Strasse, Stuttgart-Möhringen). An old-timer bus will also take visitors going to or coming from the Pressehaus on a historic ride.
For an artful adventure on the Neckar River, visitors should stop by the Stuttgart industrial harbor. According to Melber, the harbor will be festively illuminated and artists have created a “container ballet” performance during which containers will “dance” in the evening skies.
Container ballet performances will be held every 30 minutes from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Boats will run from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. from Mittelkai 5 (shuttle bus stop am Mittelkai, Stuttgart-Wangen).
Party in an underground bunker
Feuerbach offered shelter during war times. The bunker also was the first building that was redesigned during the Cold War in preparation for a possible nuclear threat.
For the Long Night of the Museums, the bunker brings back the swinging 50s with an exhibition called “Cold War and Petticoat,” and music performed by the Roadrunners, a German rockabilly band.
“The bunker reflects reality during war times, since some of the original equipment, such as camp beds and blankets, are still displayed. Therefore, it makes a one-of-a-kind event location and provides a unique atmosphere for cultural outings,” Melber said. The exhibition opens from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. The Roadrunners will play from 8 p.m. to midnight.
The bunker is located at Wiener Platz 5 (U-Bahn stop Feuerbach Bahnhof, Stuttgart-Feuerbach). The Porsche-Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen will also offer patrons the chance to tour the special exhibition “Identität 911,” featuring Porsche’s most popular sports car, the 911.
As a special highlight during the Long Night of the Museums, Porsche will open the museum’s garage, and display some cars in front of the museum. Mechanics will run the engines for the ultimate “Porsche Sound,” according to Melber.
The historic Porsche archives will open exclusively during the event, allowing visitors to learn not only about the sports cars, but also explore the history of the factory and its founder, Ferdinand Porsche.
Tours of the special exhibition will run every 30 minutes from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., engine-sound displays will be held from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. and the archive will be open from 7-11 p.m. The Porsche-Museum is located at Porscheplatz, Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen (shuttle bus stop Feuerbach Bahnhof).
For those who wish to party the night away, the Mercedes-Benz Museum will feature the SWR3 Dance Night from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. The Mercedes-Benz Museum is located at Mercedesstrasse 100 (U-Bahn stop Mercedes-Benz Museum, Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt).
“The Long Night of the Museums offers patrons the chance to experience many different cultural event locations in just one evening” Melber said. “People can enjoy a different atmosphere during the evening hours than on a normal day out . . . . They can simply go with the flow and see what the evening might bring,” she added.
Transportation included
The ticket price includes transportation and admission into every venue. Shuttle buses will run all night from the Karlsplatz bus stop.
Beside the buses, underground trains (U6 and U15) will transport patrons to various event locations, allowing for more flexibility. The trains will run from the Schlossplatz and Charlottenplatz stops.
For more information, visit www.lange-nacht.de. To purchase tickets call civ. 0711-6015-444.