Artistics at its best with Cirque Eloize's "Saloon". The Tollwood Winter Festival takes place from 23rd of November to 31st of December at Theresienwiese in Munich, Germany.

Tollwood is famous for its charming Christmas market in the heart of the Bavarian state capital but there is so much more to it: the festival is also known as a platform for ecological commitment and cultural activities.

One of this winter's highlights is the European premiere of Canadian Cirque Éloize's show "Saloon": A breath-taking performance consisting of acrobatics, circus-elements, theatre and dance - accompanied by live-music and an organic four-course menu if requested.

This winter Tollwood deals with sustainable mobility in Munich and urban environments: Experts advise visitors about alternatives concerning personal mobility, e. g. carsharing, e-bikes or public transport. Our highlight: A bicycle bell concert with 1.000 bells distributed to the audience, directed by the young Austrian composer Julian Gamisch.

Tollwood's unique Christmas market, the so-called "Market of Ideas", is an essential part of the Winter Festival where visitors can marvel at international handcrafts, most of them fairly traded, and enjoy organic food from all over the world.

The "Weltsalon" (World Salon), Tollwoods tent for social and ecological issues, has its 10th anniversary this year. This winter it is all about "home" because home is so very important in our fast-paced and highly complex world. British Urban Art Star Dean Zeus Colman, in short just Zeus, created an impressive, sculptural artwork on the subject of "home". Again there are panel discussions with prominent guests like Claudia Roth, Vice-President of the German Bundestag and Kübra Gümü?ay, blogger and journalist of Turkish origin. Lectures, concerts, performances and interactive installations make the programme at the "Weltsalon" complete.

More than 70 percent of the events - performances, live-music, children's programme etc. - taking place at the Festival ground are non-ticketed and free. Tollwood's Christmas market with craftworks and organic food from all over the world is opened until 23rd of December. The Festival closes with the big New Year´s Eve Party. Tickets for Cirque Éloize's show "Saloon" and the New Year's Eve Party are available at the Tollwood Ticket-Hotline (0049-89-38 38 50 24).

Foto: Bernd Wackerbauer