On Towel Day Weekend — May 23 till 25 — the world is celebrated the immortal deeds of Douglas Adams:

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
The Meaning of Liff
Doctor Who’s 17th season (1979-80)
his contributions to Monty Python Sketches

These works are much more than just science fiction. Rather they showcase Adams as a master of absurd humor and a keen observer of modern madness. It’s no coincidence that he became an icon of pop culture.

In collaboration with the INSPIRATA and the German Museum of Books and Writing (DBSM) of the German National Library we organized the party in Leipzig.
Throughout the weekend, we were crafting and building models, and we had quizzes in the INSPIRATA,
on Saturday our tour — “How did men make it to the Moon?” — was part of the festival,
on Sunday there was a stage program in the exhibition hall of the DBSM.

Fun in the INSPIRATA

Towelday activities in the INSPIRATA. Fotos: Team WissensSpuren.

Towelday activities in the INSPIRATA. Fotos: Team WissensSpuren.

Throughout the entire Pentecost weekend the visitors of the INSPIRATA were able to,

  • test their knowledge in a Hitchhiker’s Quiz,
  • play the original The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy text-based computer adventure game from 1978,
  • paint 3D-printed models of the robot Marvin to cheer him up,
  • build spaceships.

Every day, the best entries were awarded prizes.

Moreover, on Monday

  • there was a public livestream of the Don’t Panic Festival in Stalbridge, where Douglas Adams began writing The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,
  • and we particated in the «Contest for Longest Combined Towel Length in the Known Universe».

Towel Day Stage Program on Sunday

On Sunday noon we had a stage program in the exhibition hall of the German Museum of Books and Writing.

Contributions to the stage program. Clockwise from the top left: Music by [Pina Bettina Rücker](https://www.instagram.com/pina_ruecker/) and [Cornelia Friederike Müller](https://www.instagram.com/c_f_m___/). Welcoming address by Stephanie Jacobs. **Rumors** from Douglas Adams Universe by Jürgen Vollmer. 2x4=42 by Philippe Issler. **Improv Theater Group** Philippe & Friends. Photos: Team WissensSpuren.

Contributions to the stage program. Clockwise from the top left: Music by Pina Bettina Rücker and Cornelia Friederike Müller. Welcoming address by Stephanie Jacobs. Rumors from Douglas Adams Universe by Jürgen Vollmer. 2x4=42 by Philippe Issler. Improv Theater Group Philippe & Friends. Photos: Team WissensSpuren.

Our main acts were

  • Music for Space-Time-Travelers

  • Introduction and Readings of Excerpts of Adams Hitchhikers Guide

    • selected by Dayana Neumuth
    • read alternating with Louisa Becker

  • New Rumors from Douglas Adams’ Universe

    • presented by Jürgen Vollmer
    • some rumors were later found on the h2g2 Blog

  • Improv Theater Philippe & Friends

    • comments on the Rumors from Douglas Adams Universe
    • and heavenly romances

  • Why 42?

    • 42 is the right answer
    • for the ultimate Question of 2x4
    • Proof: Philippe Issler
[Douglas Adams](https://douglasadams.com/press/). DNA Press Photo by Jill Furmanovsky.

Douglas Adams. DNA Press Photo by Jill Furmanovsky.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to everybody who contributed to the festival for their great efforts and their splendit enthusiasm.