Editing Hanover (section)

===Regular events===
[[File:CeBit 2008 01.jpg|thumb|right|[[CeBIT]] 2008 conference centre in Hanover]]
Hanover is one of the leading exhibition cities in the world. It hosts more than 60 international and national exhibitions every year. The most popular ones are the ''[[CeBIT]]'', the ''Hanover Fair'', the ''Domotex'', the ''Ligna'', the ''IAA Nutzfahrzeuge'' and the ''Agritechnica''. Hanover also hosts a huge number of congresses and symposiums like the ''International Symposium on Society and Resource Management.''<ref>{{cite web|title=ISSRM 2014 Hannover|url=http://eventegg.com/issrm-2014/|publisher=Eventegg|access-date=7 January 2014|archive-date=7 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107143833/http://eventegg.com/issrm-2014/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Hanover is also host to the ''Schützenfest Hannover,'' the largest marksmen's fun fair in the world which takes place once a year from late June to early July.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hannover.de/|title=HANNOVER.DE − Portal der Landeshauptstadt und der Region Hannover|website=www.hannover.de|access-date=2001-05-17|archive-date=2006-10-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004030643/http://www.hannover.de/|url-status=live}}</ref> Founded in 1529, it consists of more than 260 rides and inns, five large beer tents and a large entertainment programme. The highlight of this fun fair is the {{convert|12|km|mi|0|adj=mid|-long}} ''Parade of the Marksmen'' with more than 12,000 participants from all over the world, including around 5,000 marksmen, 128 bands, and more than 70 wagons, carriages, and other festival vehicles. This makes it the longest procession in Europe. Around 2 million people visit this fun fair every year. The landmark of this event is one of the largest transportable [[Ferris wheel]]s in the world, with a height of about {{convert|60|m|ft|0}}.

Hanover also hosts one of the two largest spring festivals in Europe, with around 180 rides and inns, 2 large beer tents, and around 1.5 million visitors each year. The [[Oktoberfest Hannover|Oktoberfest Hanover]] is the second largest Oktoberfest in the world with around 160 rides and inns, two large beer tents and around 1 million visitors each year.

The ''Maschsee Festival'' takes place around the [[Maschsee]] Lake. Each year around 2 million visitors come to enjoy live music, comedy, cabaret, and much more. It is the largest Volksfest of its kind in Northern Germany. The Great Garden hosts every year the ''International Fireworks Competition'', and the ''International Festival Weeks Herrenhausen,'' with music and cabaret performances. The ''Carnival Procession'' is around {{convert|3|km|mi|0}} long and consists of 3,000 participants, around 30 festival vehicles and around 20 bands and takes place every year.

Other festivals include the Festival ''Feuer und Flamme'' (Fire and Flames), the ''Gartenfestival'' (Garden Festival), the ''Herbstfestival'' (Autumn Festival), the ''Harley Days'', the ''Steintor Festival'' (Steintor is a party area in the city centre) and the ''Lister-Meile-Festival'' (Lister Meile is a large pedestrian area).

Hanover also hosts food-oriented festivals including the ''Wine Festival'' and the ''Gourmet Festival''. It also hosts some special markets like the ''Old Town Flea Market'' and the ''Market for Art and Trade''. Some other major markets include the ''Christmas Markets of the City of Hanover'' in the Old Town and city centre, and the Lister Meile.