Every two years, a Christmas Fair is held on and around the Menkemaborg Groningen estate house in Uithuizen, and this year it is scheduled for 11 December. The estate house will be all about Christmas, with an enchantingly illuminated estate house, Christmas carols and a Christmas market.

On Sunday 6 November, shops in Groningen city centre will open their doors between noon and 5 pm.

‘The Middle Ages of Henk Helmantel’ is the name of the exhibition that will be on display up to and including 31 December in almost all of the spaces of the Ter Apel monastery.

Master photographer Ken Schles returns to the Noorderlicht Fotogalerie. Until 11 December, the photo gallery presents his latest project: Oculus; an exhibition about the relationship between images, the memory and the metaphor of light.

Groningen residents are proud of their city. In the Internet poll ‘Which is the friendliest city in the Netherlands’, Groningen takes second place.

In late November 2011, the Tourist Information Office at the Grote Markt will move to a temporary accommodation also located at the Grote Markt. It will stay there while the construction of the Groningen Forum takes place on the eastern side of the market.

Explore the most 'virgin' areas of the northern part of Groningen in two or three days while covering about 25 kilometres per day; this is the Ruige Route Hogeland (Highland Rough Route). Participating adventurers traverse the tour hiking, cycling or canoeing.

Until 27 February, two exhibitions about pop music photography are on display in the Noorderlicht photo gallery in Groningen: Popview 2011 and a solo exhibition by Olaf Heine with intriguing portraits of pop music celebrities.

As from 30 January, Groningen will temporarily be transformed into the Watercolour city of the Netherlands, which means that numerous exhibitions by watercolourists will be on display in the city centre.

The Week of Taste organisation has proclaimed Groningen the Metropolis of Taste 2011. For one year, both the city and province of Groningen will promote delicious and taste-conscious food. Throughout 2011, festivities will be held linked to the designation of Metropolis of Taste.

After a thorough renovation, the Groningen Museum will reopen its doors to the public on 19 December.
The 15-year-old museum was ready for a radical touchup due to the extensive number of visitors it drew in recent years. The floors, exterior and other parts of the museum were repaired during the renovation.

From 12 through 15 January, Groningen will be the backdrop of one of the most popular pop music festivals in the Netherlands: EuroSonic Noorderslag. The first names of the bands that will be playing have been announced. The festival will feature a total of circa 260 acts, most of whom are international acts.

The stylish Fraeylemaborg in Slochteren is a perfect place for a day excursion, particularly in December. A Christmas market, candlelight evening and other events will be held in the period prior to the holidays.

From 17 through 19 December 3020, the quays of the Hoge der A and Lage der A in Groningen city centre will function as the backdrop of the wintry WinterWealth event. 

From 17 through 19 September, the village of Bad Nieuweschans near the German border will be all about the Celtic Midwinter Festival ‘Yule’. For three days, the village will return to the days of the fiery Celtic Middle Ages.