Serenade of Lights

One person may discover their romantic side, while the other imagines him or herself in a fairy tale – the light serenade can trigger wondrous changes among its visitors.

The light serenade has floated by for more than half a century. It has long been an established tradition and takes places every Saturday before ›Oath Monday‹, which is in turn scheduled for the penultimate Monday in July. More than 20,000 red and yellow tea lights are then set adrift after dark from Ulmer Schachteln on the Danube where the old town starts – and collected again outside the city.

The length of the spectacle thus depends on the flow speed of the Danube and hence its channel flow. The river banks on both sides never fail to attract a large crowd of people. Even though not much actually happens and each year is similar to the next, the serenade never fails to fascinate onlookers. Magic of the little lights!

They begin their journey like a string of pearls. Some then rotate in pirouettes, stop, possibly even drift in the opposite direction, while others experience a short burst of speed or form small groups. Different flow conditions conjure up these random patterns, entrancing the viewer after a while and making them forget everything around them.

The serenade is organised by the Donaufreunde Ulm. When the weather is good, the special highlight is a firework display that is set off at four different points.