When it comes to beer festivals, the first thing that comes to mind is Oktoberfest. But this is far from the only German festival. In the shadow of its famous "colleague" lies the autumn festival in Stuttgart Cannstatter Volksfest. The first Volksfest (translated as “folk festival”) was held in 1818 by order of King William and Queen Katharina. Originally it was a harvest festival, which is why today agricultural exhibitions are held simultaneously with the beer festival.
The festival in Stuttgart begins a week later than the Munich Oktoberfest. The festival is opened by the mayor of Stuttgart, who uncorks the first barrel of beer at exactly 11 a.m. After this, a festive procession begins through the streets of the city. Some of the townspeople are wearing National costumes, others decorate their cars or simply pick up flags.
For 20 days Stuttgart turns into a... open air. The city is installing big number beer tents. Guests are entertained by rides, jugglers and musicians. Columns of carts and cars move through the streets, of course, also accompanied by loud musical accompaniment.
Dark beer and Gallic delicacies
The festival area covers almost 16 hectares. This area is needed to accommodate 350 tents representing breweries from all over Germany. Germans prefer to snack on beer with fried chicken, almonds or dried fish. The pavilions invite guests with delicious beer and an interesting entertainment program. For example, in the Schwarzwald hall they organize colorful laser shows, and Schwaben Brau is famous for its dark beer. But Cannstatter Volksfest is not only temporary, but also a celebration of excellent cuisine. In addition to German dishes, you can also taste national Gallic dishes here: cheeses, pates and much more.
Cannstatter Volksfest differs from Oktoberfest in its calmer, even family atmosphere. The organizers of the holiday are targeting a wide audience, including parents with children. For young guests of the festival, many restaurants offer a special children's menu. By the way, even residents of Munich escape for a few days from the noisy Oktoberfest to elegant Stuttgart.
Same city, different festival
Stuttgart hosts not only the Cannstatter Volksfest, but also spring festival Frühlingsfest, also dedicated to beer. More precisely, it is held in the Stuttgart suburb of Bad Cannstadt in late April - early May. This spring festival is one of the largest in Europe. About a million people visit it every year. Huge beer tents are installed on the festival grounds, which can accommodate several thousand people at a time.
When it comes to beer festivals, the first thing that comes to mind is Oktoberfest. But this is far from the only German festival. In the shadow of its famous "colleague" lies the autumn festival in Stuttgart Cannstatter Volksfest. The first Volksfest (translated as “folk festival”) was held in 1818 by order of King William and Queen Katharina. Originally it was a harvest festival, which is why today agricultural exhibitions are held simultaneously with the beer festival.
The festival in Stuttgart begins a week later than the Munich Oktoberfest. The festival is opened by the mayor of Stuttgart, who uncorks the first barrel of beer at exactly 11 a.m. After this, a festive procession begins through the streets of the city. Some of the townspeople dress in national costumes, others decorate their cars or simply pick up flags.
For 20 days, Stuttgart turns into an open-air city. There are a large number of beer tents set up in the city. Guests are entertained by rides, jugglers and musicians. Columns of carts and cars move through the streets, of course, also accompanied by loud musical accompaniment.
Dark beer and Gallic delicacies
The festival area covers almost 16 hectares. This area is needed to accommodate 350 tents representing breweries from all over Germany. Germans prefer to snack on beer with fried chicken, almonds or dried fish. The pavilions invite guests with delicious beer and an interesting entertainment program. For example, the Schwarzwald hall hosts colorful laser shows, and Schwaben Brau is famous for its dark beer. But Cannstatter Volksfest is not only temporary, but also a celebration of excellent cuisine. In addition to German dishes, you can also taste national Gallic dishes here: cheeses, pates and much more.
Cannstatter Volksfest differs from Oktoberfest in its calmer, even family atmosphere. The organizers of the holiday are targeting a wide audience, including parents with children. For young guests of the festival, many restaurants offer a special children's menu. By the way, even residents of Munich escape for a few days from the noisy Oktoberfest to elegant Stuttgart.
Same city, different festival
Stuttgart hosts not only the Cannstatter Volksfest, but also the spring festival Frühlingsfest, also dedicated to beer. More precisely, it is held in the Stuttgart suburb of Bad Cannstadt in late April - early May. This spring festival is one of the largest in Europe. About a million people visit it every year. Huge beer tents are installed on the festival grounds, which can accommodate several thousand people at a time.
Munich is the capital and largest city of the German state of Bavaria, on the banks of River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg, and the 12th largest city of the European Union, with a population of above 1.5 million. The Munich Metropolitan Region is home to 5.8 million people.- Wikipedia
Things to do in Munich
Olympiapark
The Olympiapark München (English: Olympic Park Munich) in Munich, Germany, is an Olympic Park which was constructed for the 1972 Summer Olympics. Located in the Oberwiesenfeld neighborhood of Munich, the Park continues to serve as a venue for cultural, social, and religious events such as events of worship. The Park is administered by Olympiapark München GmbH, a holding company fully owned by the state capital of Munich.
Munich Residenz
The Residenz in central Munich is the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria. The Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany and is today open to visitors for its architecture, room decorations, and displays from the former royal collections. The complex of buildings contains ten courtyards and displays 130 rooms. The three main parts are the Königsbau (near the Max-Joseph-Platz), the Alte Residenz (Old Residenz; towards the Residenzstraße) and the Festsaalbau (towards the Hofgarten). A wing of the Festsaalbau contains the Cuvilliés Theater since the reconstruction of the Residenz after World War II. It also houses the Herkulessaal (Hercules Hall), the primary concert venue for the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. The Byzantine Court Church of All Saints (Allerheiligen-Hofkirche) at the east side is facing the Marstall, the building for the former Court Riding School and the royal stables.
Englischer Garten
The Englischer Garten is a large public park in the center of Munich, Bavaria, stretching from the city center to the northeastern city limits. It was created in 1789 by Sir Benjamin Thompson (1753–1814), later Count Rumford (Reichsgraf von Rumford), for Prince Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria. Thompson's successors, Reinhard von Werneck (1757–1842) and Friedrich Ludwig von Sckell (1750–1823), advisers on the project from its beginning, both extended and improved the park.
Hellabrunn Zoo
Hellabrunn Zoo (or Tierpark Hellabrunn in Germany) is a 40 hectare (99 acre) zoological garden in the Bavarian capital of Munich. The zoo is located on the right bank of the river Isar, in the southern part of Munich near the quarter of Thalkirchen. As the groundwater level here is rather high and the water is of very good quality, the zoo can cover its needs for freshwater by using its own wells.
The second most important German beer festival gathers thousands of fans of the foamy drink at a large autumn fair in the capital of Baden-Württemberg.
"Bad Cannstatt", which gives its name to the autumn festival Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart, is one of the oldest districts of the city. The first celebrations took place back in 1818 and were traditionally dedicated to the harvest: in memory of the eruption of the Tambora volcano, and the subsequent years of famine. The very first event attracted more than 30 thousand people and was an extraordinary success. Previously, the festival lasted only one day, today it is held for 17 days - in last week September and the first week of October.
And only since 2007 “the holiday began to last 17 days and consistently open on Fridays at three o’clock in the afternoon. At this time, the mayor of Stuttgart must open the first barrel of beer - the main actor holiday. Another spectacular event of the holiday every year is the Volksfest Parade, which takes place along the main streets of the city. Leading local brewers serve a variety of beers and sponsor live performances by artists. In addition to the tents at the festival, traditionally, from the very first Stuttgart fair, a 26-meter fruit column is installed - the official symbol of the festival. A large amusement park with many attractions appears around it - a ferris wheel, carousels, slides.
Are you making travel plans for next year? We recommend visiting one of the many beer festivals in Germany (not necessarily Oktoberfest). Prostly magazine has compiled a calendar of the most interesting German beer festivals and their dates in 2018.
Starkbierfest
In addition to many other festivals, Munich hosts the Starkbierfest, a strong beer festival, every March. Large breweries such as Paulaner and Löwenbräu offer strong beer, over 8%, to thousands of guests in their beer halls. Compared to many other German beer festivals, Starkbierfest is a much more local event, with traditional decorations, Bavarian outfits, liter mugs of excellent beer, hearty food, live music and deafening fun. The festival began to be held by the monks of the Paulaner order in the 17th century: during the period of fasting they brewed strong beer. So Starkbierfest lasts longer than Oktoberfest.
Frühlingsfest Munich
If you are out of time for Oktoberfest or just want to avoid crowds of thousands, Munich offers you a backup option. This spring festival is similar in many ways to its “big brother”, but is smaller in scale. It also takes place on Wizna, where three traditional pavilions and a large beer garden are set up. There are also attractions, folk costumes, brass bands, and most importantly, liters of Munich beer. Although Frühlingfest is similar to Oktoberfest in many ways, the festival's atmosphere is more local and relaxed.
Augsburger Plärrer
The two-week Augsburger Plerrer attracts a predominantly local crowd of about half a million guests, making it the largest beer festival in Swabia. Here you will find everything that makes German beer festivals so great - rides, fireworks, stalls with delicious Swabian food and local beer brewed in Augsburg. Don't miss the opportunity to visit one of the three beer pavilions. The coolest thing is that the festival happens twice a year, in spring and fall, so don't worry if you don't get there the first time.
Bierbörse
Look for 2018 dates atbierboerse.com
In many regions of Germany, especially Bavaria, beer festivals are an important part of the culture, but in other parts of the country there are no similar traditions. But there is Bierbörse - a nomadic beer festival that takes place in a couple of dozen cities throughout the spring and summer. It has been running for 30 years and attracts guests with a wide selection of German and imported beers, local cuisine and entertainment. The events are held in the cities of the Rhine region - Bonn, Koblenz, Mainz, as well as in other cities that do not have their own major beer festival. Bierbörse - no traditional festival, but there is always interesting and unusual beer and a fun atmosphere.
Erlangen Bergkirchweih
Erlangen, a small town in Franconia near Nuremberg, hosts the oldest beer festival in the world, Erlangen Bergkirchweih. Although the city is not very popular with foreign tourists, the history of brewing in Erlangen is long. A few hundred years ago, this town had 18 breweries and exported more beer than any Bavarian city, including Munich. The beer festival has been part of Erlangen culture since 1755. More than a million beer lovers attend the festival every year, it is held at the foot of the hill on which the city castle stands: where 18th-century brewers built cellars - kellers - to store beer. Each keller opens a beer garden at the bottom of the hill and decorates the huge, spreading trees with paper lanterns. A truly unusual place where you can enjoy special beer, which is brewed especially for the festival.
Hannover Schützenfest
The capital of Lower Saxony hosts an annual festival that combines amusement rides, beer and shooting. This combination may seem strange to some, but shooting competitions are traditional for many German cities, and Schutzenfest is the largest in the country (5,000 people participate) and its history goes back more than 500 years. Although it is primarily a shooting festival, visitors are also attracted by five beer pavilions, hundreds of games and attractions, plenty of food and a parade that caps off the celebration.
Annafest Forchheim
Annafest has been held in Forchheim, a town in Upper Franconia between Bamberg and Nuremberg, since 1840. In essence, this is a traditional folk festival - with attractions and games for children and adults. It takes place in July, which means great weather is guaranteed. The twenty participating beer gardens provide 30,000 outdoor seats, making it the largest beer garden in Bavaria. Unusual festival makes an abundance of trees - they create a pleasant atmosphere, and most importantly - shade. You'll see plenty of locals enjoying beer and brotzeit - boards with a selection of traditional Franconian snacks for company.
Kulmbacher Bierwoche
Kulmbach, small town in Upper Franconia, famous for its beer. Locals call it the “secret beer capital,” which is especially impressive considering that the town’s population is about 30 thousand people. The local brewery Kulmbacher-Mönschof supplies products all over the world and its beer is well known in many countries. The annual "beer week" has been held since 1939 - through it, the Kulmbacher brewery wanted to promote its city and its brewing history. The festival has moved from the city center to the brewery, which features a classic beer garden. Fortunately, throughout its history, this festival has been dedicated to only one thing - beer.
Internationales Berliner Bierfestival
The annual Berlin festival proves that not all German beer festivals feature only German beers. Berlin is a cosmopolitan city: the beer festival features beers from all over the world, and each year a region is chosen to focus on Special attention. Traditional breweries are presented mixed with craft breweries. Biermeile - "beer mile", as it is called local residents, is more than two kilometers of beer stands along Karl-Marx-Allee. The Guinness Book of Records considers it the longest beer garden in the world. Don't miss your chance to visit the festival - it lasts only one weekend.
Gäubodenvolksfest
Heubodenvolksfest takes place in Straubing, a city on the Danube east of Munich. It began as an agricultural fair and has grown into an epic 11-day festival with roller coasters, carnivals, parades and seven beer pavilions where beer from local breweries Karmeliten, Irlbacher, Röhrl and Erl is poured into liter mugs. The pavilions are the size of Oktoberfest - they can accommodate up to 5,000 people, and one of them, Ochsenbraterei Wenisch, even has a carousel bar. And since we are in Bavaria, hearty dishes, brass ensembles and lederhosen await us.
Barthelmarkt
The small Bavarian town of Oberstimm hosts a modest festival on the last weekend of August. Local residents claim that Bartelmarkt was started as a livestock fair by the Romans, who founded the city in the 1st century BC, and farmers still sell livestock on the last day of the festival. In five pavilions you can try different beers - Ingobräu, Spaten and Löwenbräu, as well as wheat beer - the last greeting of summer. The pavilions are reminiscent of Oktoberfest with their decorations and live music, and, like the Munich festival, they fill up soon after opening. Those who don't have enough space inside can enjoy their beer outdoors.
Limmersdorfer Lindenkirchweih
Limmersdorfer Lindenkirchwei is another Bavarian festival. This small town is located in Upper Franconia, between Kulmbach and Bayreuth. Lindenkirchwei, a holiday of Lutheran origin, is held at a 350-year-old linden tree. Locals dance around her. As with any other festival, there are many legends about who planted the tree and how. The importance of the festival for culture is undeniable - the city even applied to be included in the UNESCO heritage list. Why not? There is a lot of dancing, music, traditions, and most importantly - beer.
Baiersdorf Krenmarkt
Beiersdorf in Middle Franconia is famous for beer and horseradish. For just one day a year, locals gather at the end of the harvest season to enjoy the horseradish harvest, which is believed to have been grown here more than 500 years ago. The festival begins with the Queen of Horseradish (this lucky lady retains the title for a year) and the mayor of the city inviting everyone to enjoy the harvest. It's no surprise that everything revolves around horseradish - the horseradish statue, horseradish dumplings and even horseradish schnapps. If you're not a fan of horseradish, there's a Franconian beer that's definitely worth a try.
Oktoberfest
The world's most famous beer festival, Munich's Oktoberfest, attracts huge crowds of beer lovers to Bavaria every year. The history of the festival began in 1810, when Bavarians were invited to take part in a large celebration of the wedding of Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, after whom the Oktoberfest venue, Theresienwiese, was named. Only six local Munich breweries sell beer at the festival, each of which produces a seasonal beer - Märzen, which is darker and stronger. Even though most of the six million visitors are tourists, Oktoberfest manages to retain its traditional Bavarian charm.
Cannstatter Volksfest
Stuttgart, the capital of Baden-Württemberg, located not so far from Munich, hosts its own major beer festival, which overlaps with Oktoberfest. Although Wasen (as the festival is called here) does not attract as many people as Munich, the second largest beer festival has a much healthier ratio of Germans to tourists. The traditional attire of neighboring Bavaria is largely adopted here - meaning many visitors will be wearing dirndls and lederhosen, although this is not a historical tradition. The general atmosphere of this festival is in many ways reminiscent of Oktoberfest - pavilions, carousels, tons of beer, but at Cannstatter you will feel a more party spirit - especially in the evenings in the pavilions.
Bremer Freimarkt
The Freimarkt in Bremen, a large city in northern Germany, is a delight for both children and adults. The combination of a fun fair and a beer festival attracts four million people every year. It has more attractions than any other German beer festival (320, in case you were wondering), and it's the oldest fair in Germany, dating back to 981. The festival begins with a parade - brightly decorated floats and dressed-up revelers move through the city center, drawing crowds of spectators. The spacious Freimarkt hosts carnival games, dozens of food stalls and a beer pavilion where you can try local beer. Those who want to continue the party after the festival grounds close can party all night into the morning at the nearby Halle 7.
Hamburger DOM
Hamburg, the northernmost city on this list, hosts not one large German beer festival, but three - winter, spring and summer. Hamburg - Big City, second in population after Berlin, is located on the Elbe, on the shores of the North Sea. The festival has its roots in the days when St. Mary's Cathedral served as a shelter in winter. And although the cathedral was destroyed in 1804, the festival continues to exist. No matter what time of year you visit, there are hundreds of attractions, excellent food (including a local specialty - herring sandwiches) and many stalls offering a variety of drinks.
