--- description: Germany's Ruhr Valley region, the 2010 Capital of European Culture, shut down a stretch of one of the continent's busiest motorways. See what took place when the vehicles stayed at home title: Party on Germany's Autobahn image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [World](/section/world/) * [LightBox](/tag/time-section-lightbox/) # Party on Germany's Autobahn by [TIME](/author/time/) Jul 19, 2010 4:00 AM CUT by [TIME](/author/time/) Jul 19, 2010 4:00 AM CUT Germany’s Ruhr Valley region, the 2010 Capital of European Culture, shut down a stretch of one of the continent’s busiest motorways. See what took place when the vehicles stayed at home ### What’s the Goal?  Germany's Ruhr Valley region shut down a stretch of one of Europe's busiest motorways on Sunday July 18 — 60 kilometers of the A-40 Autobahn — for an event called "Still Life in the Ruhr's Fast Lane." And these boys are taking advantage by having a good old fashioned kickabout — with thankfully not a vehicle in sight. Wolfgang Rattay / Reuters ### All Walks of Life  It was estimated that between two and three million people joined in the six-hour shut-down, with hundreds of thousands of cyclists and skaters mingling with the many pedestrians. Wolfgang Rattay / Reuters ### Stat Attack  Some of the all important statistics to make your head spin: there were 20,000 beer tables and 40,000 benches. A lottery was set up for community groups to perform on the day and approximately 7,000 different groups took part with 50,000 helpers giving up their time to organize the event ... Manfred Vollmer / Handout / Reuters ### May the Force Be With You  ... Some of the acts on show included dancers, singers and bands and there were art exhibitions, soccer, poker, yoga and chess demonstrations. A Star Wars fan club held their monthly meeting while wedding specialists organized a bridal fashion show and there were even rumors of an actual wedding taking place. Wolfgang Rattay / Reuters ### Changing Lanes and Opinions  Part of the emphasis behind the day was to alter people's perceptions of Germany's Ruhr Valley. It's been known as the "Pott" for decades, which refers to the region's reliance on mining and heavy industry. Fritz Pleitgen, chairman of the Capital of Culture efforts, said the event had, "the potential to be a founding moment for the Ruhr metropolis." Wolfgang Rattay / Reuters ### You Can Take People Out of Cars …  There was nevertheless a certain irony to proceedings: the massive crowd meant that traffic jams still took place, even though vehicles weren't allowed on the road. Bicyclists and skaters had trouble getting around which resulted in the police eventually closing some of the entrances during the day. Thomas Berns / Reuters ### Nein-Nein  A tense tie-break between the future Steffi Graf and Boris Becker takes place, not on the perfectly kept lawn grass of Wimbledon but rather the German autobahn. Wolfgang Rattay / Reuters ### Record-Breaking  This is but part of the world's longest table, which stretched along the 60 kilometers. A Mad Hatter's tea party, inspired by Alice in Wonderland, was held and Bavarian beer-drinking songs could be heard in many parts. A party took place for Helen Göde who, according to her sign, was celebrating her 27th birthday. "I've never had a birthday like this and I think I never will again for the rest of my life," she said, all the while accepting good wishes from complete strangers from over Germany as well as South Korea, Los Angeles and Ireland. 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