While many travelers have probably heard of Oktoberfest, Germany’s best-known festival, you can find a variety of different German festivals throughout the year. With Volksfeste, German music festivals, film festivals and much more, you can easily find German parties to add to your festival wish list. In addition, many of the festivals in Germany showcase amazing traditional German cuisine, in some of the best places to visit in Germany. If you’re planning to go to different festivals around the country, check out our guide to Germany by train for everything you need to know about the country’s rail system. People celebrate in the beer pavilion at the Oktoberfest-fest in MunichHeld in Munich, Oktoberfest is one of Germany’s most famous festivals. Beer lovers from all over the country and the world come together to celebrate the Bavarian Beer Festival, along with gastronomic and cultural events and performances.
It is also the largest and oldest festival of African music and culture in Europe. Since its inception in 1989, more than 7,000 musicians and artists from 56 countries in Africa and the Caribbean have performed in front of more than 2.5 million visitors. From epic beer festivals and star-studded film festivals to medieval evenings and Gothic gatherings, these are the best German festivals to consider. I will keep this one on the list, simply because it is arguably the most popular and clearly the biggest beer festival in the world. Come for the Rosenmontag parade, but stay all week to attend all the great concerts, parties, and events that take place as part of Karneval.
While many major film festivals are invitation-only or require the purchase of an admission ticket for thousands of dollars, Berlinale sells public tickets for individual screenings. And with about 12 euros each, it is really not much more expensive than watching a movie in the cinema. The largest international film festival in the world, the Berlinale, has been held annually since 1978. With more than 400 films screened, all competing for 20 awards called Golden or Silver Bears, the Berlinale showcases the world’s elite film talent in almost every genre. Europe’s largest club festival and the German equivalent of SXSW, Reeperbahn is a music festival that spans the beautiful northern port city of Hamburg. Instead of being held in a special venue, most bars, clubs and music venues in the city host more than 800 concerts over the course of four days in September.
Concerts are held at several prestigious venues, including the Nationaltheater, the Prinzregententheater, the Cuvilliés-Theater and the AllErheiligen-Hofkirche. A highlight of the festival is Opera for All; a live broadcast of a full production from the theatre to a seated outdoor audience on Max-Joseph-Platz. Whether you like to watch the latest international films or get lost in a good book, you are sure to satisfy your tastes at these major events. Kirta Sunday is usually the third Sunday in October when these festivals can take place.
Here’s the collection of some of the biggest and best, and a few that are simply unique to your concept. Internationally acclaimed, this impressive musical event attracts the attention of the world’s best fraternities. The Munich Opera Festival is one of the top-rated German music festivals, known for its extremely rich tradition, beautiful environments and great performances. The festival also hosts Broadway musicals, concerts and ballet productions. Although this fair is officially called “Wurstmarkt”, it is famous for its celebration of excellent local wines.
Their musical line-up consists of Dixieland, jazz, boogie woogie and big bands. The festival features international superstars of baroque music, such as soprano singers Emma Kirkby and Dorothee Mields. Other baroque solo instrumentalists, such as violinist Bjarte Eike, cellist Harriet Krijgh and pianist Magda Amara, take the stage in glorious interpretations of Bach’s most beautiful works. The German rock festival is legendary, as is the exemplary EDM scene. What makes them so attractive is the variety of stages, the quality of the acts and the hugely impressive design and organization.
By now, you might get the feeling that techno and EDM are an important sector for German summer festivals. MAYDAY is already 30 years old and is therefore one of the grandparents of the EDM festivals that Germany has to offer. The festival lasts two days and the venue connected to the stadium will give you an idea of the crowd you can expect.
The festival actually presents itself as its own city, with an indigenous weekend population of 210,000. Christmas Day is undoubtedly the biggest and most important national holiday of the year. In Germany, Christmas Day is marked by religious and non-secular houses. The day is characterized by a special church service or just spending time with family and friends. The Day of the Assumption (Mariä Himmelfahrt) is another Christian festival celebrated mainly by Catholics and therefore most visible in the southern and western regions.
Without a doubt, it is an annual pilgrimage for many rock, hard rock and metal fans from all over the continent. This German music festival receives special points for its unique setting. An old coal mine serves as a backdrop, they have even left several structures in place reminiscent of the industry that made their home in the Iron City.
There are many parties and celebrations on the night of April 30 to May 1; tonight’s motto is Tanz in den Maior “Dance in May”. Click here for more information oktoberfest about the traditional dishes you can try when visiting Germany. This festival invites you to see the natural beauty of the Rhine in a whole new light.