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22 January 2020 / 12 Comments

Festivals in Germany - now the festival season begins

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Curious about festivals in Germany? Germany is the land of festivals, and the real festival season begins in the spring. We've got plenty of festivals to choose from, and we promise you'll find an event to suit your taste, whether you prefer classical music, hard rock, crafts, beer or just a good time.

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Plenty of festivals in Germany

You could say that the festival season in Germany is starting now, not least because it's almost time for KARNEVAL. On the other hand, there are festivals in Germany throughout the year. We usually think that we are a bit bad at that in Sweden (at least after they cancelled the Water Festival!), but in Germany they know how to start a good festival!

Carnival GNTB / Greg Snell

Carnival

The German Carnival is a colourful celebration with carnival trains, imaginative costumes and a heavily celebration. The festivities last for a long time, but the highlight is at the end of February. You can experience the celebrations in many places, including the Rhineland and southern Germany.

Festival i Tyskland - Karneval
Carnival in Cologne, © NRW - Tourismus Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V. / Oliver Franke

For a real party atmosphere, you can go to Cologne, Düsseldorf, Aachen and Mainz. Baden-Württemberg celebrates in traditional costumes with very special wooden masks, as you can see in the picture.

  • When? 20 February - 26 February 2020
Carnival © GNTB / Greg Snell

Venetian carnival

Another variation on carnival, which seems really coolis the Venetian Carnival organised in Ludwigsburg in southern Germany. You'll have to wait until September, but it's worth it to experience this party full of costumes, acrobats, fire performers, music, dance and theatre.

  • When? 11-13 September 2020
  • Parking space for motorhomes: Campervan site Bärenwiese Ludwigsburg
Venetian carnival © Tourism & Events / Benjamin Stollenberg

Easter festivals

There are plenty of German festivals focusing on Easter and spring in many parts of the country. Here are six festivals or markets with crafts, flowers and perhaps music or other entertainment.

© Fotolia

1. HUSUM CROCUS FESTIVAL

At the end of March, Husum organises a festival in honour of the crocus flower, including a craft and flower market.

  • When? 21-22 March 2020
  • Read more: Husum Tourism
  • Parking space for motorhomes: Loof's Wohnmobilhafen, at Dookkoogstrasse 7, Husum

2. ARTS AND CRAFTS MARKET IN LÜBECK

Around a hundred exhibitors set up shop in Lübeck's old harbour. Here you will find various handicrafts in wood, ceramics, glass, textiles and more, as well as various culinary specialities.

  • When? 21-22 March 2020
  • Parking space for motorhomes: Lastadie P4 Willy-Brandt-Allee, Lübeck.

3. Egg art market in Benediktbeuern

The Benediktbeuern monastery in southern Germany hosts the egg art market 'Ova Burana artistica', featuring various Easter crafts.

4. EASTER MARKET IN ROSTOCK

The Hanseatic city of Rostock hosts an Easter market with craft stalls and carousels for children.

  • When? 27 March - 13 April 2020
  • Parking space for motorhomes: Stadthafen 70, Rostock

5. Easter egg market in Mannheim and Schwetzingen

At the Easter egg market in Mannheim and Schwetzingen, artists showcase different techniques for decorating Easter eggs.

  • When? 4-5 April 2020
  • Parking space for motorhomes: Hans-Thoma-Strasse 3, Mannheim

6TH "OSTERMÜNDE" IN TRAVEMÜNDE

'Ostermünde' is a German festival held in Travemünde, with an Easter bonfire, Easter egg parade and Easter egg hunt.

  • When? 10-13 April 2020
  • Parking space for motorhomes: Fishing harbour New Travemünde Landstrasse 304, Travemünde.
Påskägg
Oberlausitz - Marketing Gesellschaft Oberlausitz - Niederschlesien / Sylvio Ditrich

Asparagus festivals

If you haven't had enough of Easter and spring festivals, you can look for one of Germany's many asparagus festivals, which take place between April and June. For example, visit the Beelitzer Spargelfest in Beelitz near Potsdam on 5-7 June.

  • Campsites in Beelitz: Campsite ICANOS e.V., Zur Lehnmarke, Seddiner See or Camp Dobbrikow, Am Glienicksee 2, Nuthe-Urstromtal.
Festivaler i Tyskland - sparrisfestivaler

Want to experience Oktoberfest? Book your place in the tents now!

Oktoberfest in Munich is perhaps the party of parties in Germany, with colourful parades, brass band concerts, a funfair and beer tents where the atmosphere is at its peak. The party doesn't start until September and October, but if you want a place in a beer tent, you need to book well in advance. Some tents can be booked as early as January, while others open for booking later in the spring.

Festivaler i Tyskland - Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest in Germany, photo: Pixabay

Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in Nuremberg

Do you like rock? Then don't miss the twin festivals Rock am Ring and Rock im Park. Some of the names of artists include Green Day, System Of a Down, Volbeat, Deftones and Billy Talent.

Festivaler i Tyskland - Rock im Park
Rock in the park © Argo Konzerte GmbH Wurzburg

South Side/Hurricane Festival in Scheessel/Neuhausen ob Eck

The Hurricane and Southside festivals are two large and popular outdoor festivals. The festivals always attract major artists, and this year's performers include The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys and Foo Fighters.

Wacken festival

Wacken is a very popular festival for all hard rock fans. It started as a small local festival in 1990 and has since grown to attract around 100,000 people every year. Now it's so popular that it looks like it's already sold out, so you might have to make a bit of an effort if you want to get tickets... This year's line-up includes artists such as Judas Priest, Amon Amarth, Sodom, Mercyful Fate and Hypocrisy.

  • When? 30 July - 1 August
  • Read more: Wacken

Beethoven 250th anniversary festival in Germany

This year, 2020, is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Beethoven. This means that a whole range of events related to the German composer will be organised throughout the year. Below you will find some examples.

  • Carnival concert in Bonn, 21 February 2020
  • Jazzfest in Bonn (with Beethoven), 30 April - 30 May 2020
  • International Beethovenfest in Bonn, 4 September 2020
Beethoven
Statue of Ludwig van Beethoven in Bonn © Getty Images / Justhavealook

"Rhine in flames" 2020

”Rhine in flames", or the Rhine in flames as it becomes in Swedish, is an event with fireworks. For five nights, five different locations are illuminated by the light show.

  • Bonn: 2 May 2020
  • Bingen: 4 July 2020
  • Koblenz: 8 August 2020
  • Oberwesel: 12 September 2020
  • St Goar: 19 September 2020
Festivaler i Tyskland - Rhein in flammen
Rhein in flammen in Koblenz © GNTB / Kelvin Yuen

Festivals in Germany this autumn and winter

Are all festivals in Germany over after the summer? No, certainly not! September and October are the time for Oktoberfest and other German beer festivals. In October and November, it's the season for all German wine festivals, with food, wine, parades and markets. And then it's time for Christmas markets... In other words, there's almost always a festival going on in Germany!

Festivaler i Tyskland - vinfester
Festival in Germany © Stadtiphofen, photographer Jens Wegener

Have you visited any of the festivals in Germany? Which German festival would you prefer to visit?

All our top tips about Germany. Click on the image!

Top image in post: Carnival © DZT Greg Snell

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22 January 2020 6:00
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  1. Lena in Wales says:

    What has changed with festivals and celebrations in Sweden, we are starting to catch up with what has long been a tradition in Germany, for example, where people have always wanted to have fun and make sure to organise a party or festival. I have always liked that mentality.
    Has been to a number of carnivals in Holland and Germany.
    Have seen Rhein in Flammen, fantastic.
    Take care!

    22 January 2020 - 9:21

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      Do you think we're getting better at this kind of thing in Sweden? We think it's a bit bad with things like this ... In Germany there seems to be a festival all the time 😉 We've also ended up at a carnival in Belgium once. Glad you saw Rhein in the flame! 🙂

      22 January 2020 - 17:26

      Reply

  2. Solan says:

    Oh yes, we're driving home via Germany for Easter. The only thing we focus on is asparagus. We buy it directly from the grower, no festival hassle at all!
    ? So not a festival fan, but what great info for the more dedicated.
    With location tips. Thumbs up!?

    22 January 2020 - 10:38

    Reply

  3. BP says:

    The funny thing about many of Germany's festivals is that they have been around for hundreds of years, such as the carnival. And the "basic rules" seem to still exist today. Have visited the carnival trains in Cologne and Düsseldorf. Great fun and very lavish.
    Having lived in Munich for 6 years, I have of course visited the Oktoberfest as well. Yes, there have also been a few wine festivals in the Mosel Valley.
    I would really like to see the Rhine in flames irl. Looks incredibly cool.

    22 January 2020 - 20:12

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      Glad you experienced the festival trains in Cologne and Düsseldorf! I heard a story about the carnival in Cologne on FB, and it sounded absolutely crazy, haha, must probably go there at some point! 🙂

      23 January 2020 - 7:20

      Reply

  4. Lena - good for the soul says:

    Oh my goodness! I knew that festivals were popular in Germany, but I had no idea that much!

    Hug Lena

    23 January 2020 - 6:01

    Reply

  5. Maggan and Ingemar says:

    Fun with festivals. I thought it was mostly in the autumn. Now we must take and plan. ?

    23 January 2020 - 16:23

    Reply

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  1. Oktoberfest in Germany - and other German festivals | FREEDOMtravel
  2. Gifts in Germany - 12 must-haves to bring home | FREEDOMtravel

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