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                                           German Festivals

1. Oktoberfest

   What started as a royal wedding celebration is now the largest folk festival in the world, drawing crowds of nearly 7 million people who consume almost 8 million liters of beer. The Bavarian capital of Munich is among Germany’s most beloved tourist destinations and is filled with castles, palaces, monuments, and gorgeous architecture. Oktoberfest is the most famous of all traditional German festivals.

During the two weeks of Oktoberfest each fall, the entire city dons dirndl and lederhosen and huge crowds join in on the drinking, eating, and merriment on the Wies’n. More than just drinking (though it obviously takes center stage), the festival grounds are decked out with rides, games, shops, and food stands.

Though Munich’s Oktoberfest is the largest, many cities in Germany hold their own folk festivals at this time. Huge fairs with plentiful beer and traditional German dress can also be found at the Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart or the Cranger Kirmes in Herne, both of which also draw crowds in the millions.

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But Oktoberfest isn’t only about beer and getting drunk. Half of the fairgrounds include carnival rides and games, and the “Old Oktoberfest” section is less raucous and includes more traditional tents. In some years, there is a wine tent where you can try out German wines. Otherwise, if you want a break from the crowds, the smaller tents are more like restaurants, and specialize in a certain meal while serving you a liter of beer as well. Furthermore, the biergartens are attached to every big tent and offer you some fresh air and a more casual, conversational atmosphere than inside the tents.

2. DFB Pokal

If you’ve ever believed Germans to be stoic, you’ve never seen them at a soccer game. Like most Europeans, Germans are crazy for football and often have a deep-seated loyalty for their regional team. Held annually, the DFB Pokal is a knockout tournament for 64 of Germany’s top qualified football teams. The final, which takes place in summer in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, is the German equivalent of the Superbowl. Rivalries run high. Face paints and banners as far as the eye can see. Singing, cheering, open weeping, and the occasional streaker make the DFB Pokal Final one of the wildest and most emotional annual events in Germany.

3. Local Volksfests

A “Volksfest” means “The People’s Festival” which means that you will find a Volksfest in just about every German town.  Some are big, some are small but they all are bound to be really fun German cultural festivals that you will forever remember.  And some are so unique! Like the one in this photo that is in a CAVE!!!

Some Volksfests are just like Oktoberfest, where there are endless liters of beer, carnival-style games, and rides like a giant Ferris wheel and bumper cars.  Other fests focus on wine (yes, Germany is SO much more than beer, but more on that later). I much prefer going to a local Volksfest than the big Oktoberfest because it is so much less touristy.  Here are a few great Volksfests to go to instead of Oktoberfest:

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Gäubodenvolksfest:  Held annually every August in the Bavarian town of Straubing, it is said to be the second largest beer festival in Germany (after Oktoberfest) in Bavaria.  There won’t be nearly as many tourists here, but it is still huge, has plenty of table dancing in the tents, and everyone loves their Trachten (Dirndles and Lederhosen).

Cannstatter Volksfest: Each year, Stuttgart puts on the second largest beer fest in all of Germany.  In fact, some people even call it the “Stuttgart Oktoberfest” because it’s so big and has just about everything the Munich, Germany beer festival has.  The biggest difference is that outside of Bavaria, not as many people wear their Trachten.  

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Regensburg Dult: Regensburg makes such a fantastic day trip from Munich. Each year they have a fantastic fest located on their “island” in the city.  However, this one often starts about mid-may. It is substantially smaller than Oktoberfest, with just one main beer tent, but has a very local feel to it!

Nuremberg’s Frühlingsfest: Each spring (typically in April), Nuremberg has its Spring Festival.  Since this is Northern Bavaria, there won’t be many people in Trachten, but just like the other Volksfests, you are sure to find so much delicious food, all the beer you can drink, lots of rides, a few beer tents, and everything else that make fests a magical place to go to.

4. Karneval

Originating in Venice, Carnival is now celebrated all over the world from New Orleans to Rio de Janeiro. Each has its own unique flavor, and the German version is something like a two-week long costume party. This is especially true in Cologne, a city famous for its Karneval celebrations.

The biggest event of the season is Rose Monday. When 74 decorated floats, 67 tractors, and 50 Ford Trucks promenade for three hours through a 6 km track of downtown Cologne. Performers in the parade toss sweets, flowers, and plush toys to the spectators. The vast majority of whom are dressed in their wackiest costume. The parade also tends to be filled with political satire, with many floats featuring caricatures of European politicians.

The whole week is, like most traditional German festivals, accompanied by heavy drinking and lots of dancing. Come for the Rosenmontag parade but stay the whole week to attend all of the amazing concerts, parties, and events that go on as part of Karneval.

5. Asparagusfest and Onionfest, Schwetzingen & Weimar

However, german food isn’t exactly adored world-wide. Known to consist mostly of meat and potatoes, German cuisine tends to be pretty heavy on the basics. Perhaps that is why there are several traditional festivals in Germany dedicated to the country’s staple crops.

Thanks to Germany’s long and persisting farmer culture. There are festivals throughout the country to celebrate each important harvest, with two crops in particular reigning supreme. Though German food festivals dedicated to each foodstuff can be found in most any region where the crop is grown, the Onionfest (Zwiebelnfest) in Weimar and Asparagusfest (Spargelfest) in Schwetzingen are two of the largest and most well-known harvest festivals in the country. You buy the freshest picks of the season. You can also try plenty of dishes based around the vegetable of the moment.

6. The Almabtrieb

Move over beer festivals, an Almabtrieb just might be my favorite of the German traditional festivals.  However, you aren’t going to find these just anywhere.  In order to find an Almabtrieb, you are going to have to go way down into the Southern parts of Bavaria and up into the Alps.

In sum, what makes these a unique German festival?  Well, have you ever seen a parade of cows decorated with giant, flamboyant, colorful headdresses all marching down a mountain before?  Yeah, neither had I before going to the Mittenwald Almabtrieb.

While there may not be giant beer tents, there will still be giant beer gardens.  And with beer gardens in Germany, comes plenty of….well, BEER!  But these fests go so much further than partying with the Maß.  These fests celebrate a successful year of livestock on the mountains.  It is a true autumn celebration where the local farmers from each village take great pride in their animals. 

7. Kirchweih or Kirta

Depending on the region, this festival may take several different names.  Not only, this fest is most popularly seen in Bavaria, which is a very Catholic state.  A Kirchweih is a celebration where the whole town comes together to remember the dedication of the town’s church.  These obviously started as a religious event. But today are almost more like the above mentioned Volksfests. 

There is usually a giant tree (upwards of 100 feet tall!) that is decorated. Installed in the town at the time of the celebration.

Kirta Sunday is typically the third Sunday in October when these festivals may occur. 

8. Unity Day

As a matter of fact, october 3rd is the largest national holiday in Germany, the German equivalent of the 4th of July. It commemorates the 1989 reunification of East and West Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall. While most every German city holds official celebrations on the holiday, there is no celebration quite like the one in the capital city, where the effects of the wall were most acutely felt.

Every year, Berlin celebrates this momentous occasion with a huge city-wide festival. Fair grounds are erected, open-air concerts take place at the Brandenburg Gate, a parade marches through downtown, and art and history exhibits are installed all along the remains of the Berlin Wall. In a city where the memory of the Wall and separation is still relatively fresh, the annual celebrations in Berlin take on a distinct character that are unrivaled by any other German city. Being in Berlin for German Unity Day means you’ll have no shortage of things to do and see.

9. Hafengeburtstag

The sparkling northern city of Hamburg has huge significance in western culture. As a major seaport founded at the end of the 12th century, Hamburg has been a historical trade hub without which the rest of the world may have never discovered The Beatles or the hamburger. Finally, to honor the port that has contributed so much to western culture. The people of Hamburg celebrate its birthday each year on the first weekend of May with a massive festival called Hafengeburtstag. More than one million people attend sprawling festival complete with boat shows, fireworks, concerts, and an open-air fair.

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Moreover, fans of antiqueships will have plenty to do, with hundreds of boats with elaborate sails pouring into the harbor for water parades, races, and tours of the decks. But Hafengeburtstag isn’t just for sea vessel enthusiasts! Foodies will find plenty of delicious, freshly caught surf at the hundreds of street food stands. The city’s beer halls will be fullto the brim. Those looking to party can take part in raves on boats; and rock stars as big as Rammstein have performed at the festival. The beautiful city of Hamburg is truly electric during Hafengeburtstag. Offering a wide variety of programming that has something for everyone.

10. Maibaum

In addition, hoisting the May Pole is another fantastic celebration. Mostly done in Bavaria, which is why the poles are most often seen painted in the colors of the Bavarian flag: blue and white.

One of the really fun parts about a Maibaum fest is the tradition of small town’s out to get other nearby towns’ Maypoles.  Often groups of young men will go and try to “steal” the designated pole (before it’s erected in the town) and if they are successful in capturing it. The village must pay the other town that stole the pole in the form of inviting them over for PLENTY of beer and food to get it back! 

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Finally, on the day of the pole raising, you can often find a group of guys parading the pole down the streets. As they sing, dance, and drink beer to their destination (usually a main town square).

As the pole is lifted, there is usually a small celebration of people wearing traditional Bavarian Trachten of their region as they do special dances around the pole. Not surprisingly, there is also plenty of wursts and drinking local beer!

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