By Kumiko Matter
Germans find a reason to celebrate and throw a festival for just about anything. Plus, they know how to go all out and have a fun time too! Plan your next trip to Germany and know in advance which festivals and holidays are taking place so you can join the party!
Also check out: Tasty German Foods | How to Get Around Germany
Before Ash Wednesday and Lent start, participants go out and celebrate Carnival as a way to get the gluttony and debauchery out of their system. These days, it’s more about having a good time, partying in the city streets, and dressing up in costumes. In Germany, Halloween is not a popular holiday, but they dress up in similar costumes during Carnival. Look out for fun activities such as Women’s Carnival — where women get to kiss any man they want after cutting off his tie, and Rose Monday — a street parade with elaborate floats and lots of dancing! Carnival festival dates differ from year to year, but are generally at the end of February and the start of March. It is celebrated all around Germany, but the best and biggest Carnival festival is in Mainz.
Celebrate Berlin’s diversity and the coming of summer at the Carnival of Cultures in June. This festival was created to respect and abolish discrimination of other cultures in Germany. Lasting four days in the Kreuzberg district with tons of ethnic foods, markets, parades, performances and concerts — this festival is sure to keep you on your toes! You might discover a talent in salsa dancing while listening to Latin music, or set your taste buds on fire with spicy Korean food! Set in the middle of June, Carnival of Cultures is free and lasts well into the night.
Bach Fest
Germany produced many great composers during the Classical era, among them being Johann Sebastian Bach and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Their work is celebrated every year in the middle of June in Leipzig. Listen to acclaimed performers and orchestras present their takes on the Bach classics. This is the perfect festival for Classical music lovers and for kids needing a little inspiration with their music lessons.
Oktoberfest
The name of the festival makes it seem like its in October, but the majority of it is celebrated in September. Rent a traditional Dirndl or Lederhosen for the day, drink beer to your heart’s content alongside Germans and visitors alike, and dance between the rows of tables when you’ve had a bit too much to drink! Check out the beer tips on the Most Delicious Food in Germany to find out how to make the most of your Oktoberfest adventures!
The major sights of Berlin are amazing to see during the day. Now imagine them with special light projections shining on the building fronts! The Berlin Festival of Lights lights up all the major buildings in town with unique light projections each year. Just walk around, have a quick stop for currywurst, and be in awe of how the artists use the famous Berlin buildings as canvases! The Berlin Festival of Lights runs for 10 days in the middle of October.
In the month leading up to Christmas, visit the local “Weihnachtsmarkt” (Christmas market) every night of the week for delicious treats, Christmas decorations, and handcrafted gifts. Visiting the Weihnachtsmarkt fills you with cheer and excitement for Christmas to come! Every German city will have a Weihnachtsmarkt in their main shopping areas and set up the Christmas Market with old wooden business stalls and lots of Christmas lights. The Weihnachtsmarkt in Heidelberg is widely renowned. It even features an ice rink!
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Photo credits:
Cologne Carnival: Radomir Cernoch via Flickr
Munich Oktoberfest: Roman Boed via Flickr
Heidelberg Weihnachtsmarkt: Falk Lademann via Flickr