The 15th Britnic – The British Cultural Picnic

British Culture on a Meadow in Münster

When bagpipe sounds suddenly echo across Himmelreichallee on a July Sunday, men in kilts hurl tree trunks, and ladies in tweed cycle through Münster's city centre, it's Britnic. Since 2011, the German-British Society Münster/Münsterland e.V. has organised this unusual cultural picnic on the meadow behind the Westfälische Schule für Musik — more precisely, on the grounds of the former Tuckesburg Zoo, in close proximity to the owl enclosure. For four hours, the park transforms into a "Little Britain" by the Aasee lake.

The Programme — Scottish, British, Eccentric

The centrepiece is the Pipes and Drums with bagpipe performances by the local Pipe Band. In the classic Scottish Tossing the Caber, brave guests try their hand at throwing an almost 6-metre-long tree trunk — a discipline from the Highland Games. In Welly Wanging, the goal is to throw a Wellington boot as far as possible. A Tweed Ride starts at 10:30 am from the castle and leads elegantly dressed cyclists in tweed suits and knickerbockers along the promenade to the picnic meadow. The Alien Riders Choir provides atmospheric accompaniment with British songs, hat artist Ana Ehling presents her extravagant creations, and the Royal British Legion is represented with an information stand.

Picnicking in British Style

The most important thing about Britnic: you bring your own picnic. Blanket, basket, tea from the thermos, scones, cucumber sandwiches, and sausage rolls — everything is allowed and welcome. The grounds are level and pushchair-friendly, so families with small children or grandparents can participate without any problems. Parking is available nearby along Sentruper Straße or at the Allwetterzoo. Those who wish can come in tweed outfits or with a Union Jack on their blanket — dressing up is expressly encouraged, but not mandatory.

An Event of German-British Dialogue

For decades, the German-British Society Münster/Münsterland has fostered cultural exchange between the university city and Great Britain. Britnic is its flagship event — a format that has become even more important after Brexit to keep human and cultural connections alive. The picnic is deliberately free and open to all, financed by donations and sponsorship. With its 15th anniversary in 2026, Britnic has become a firm fixture in Münster's summer calendar.