Munich festivals

MUNICH FESTIVALS: Few folks need a flimsier excuse to celebrate than the Bavarians.

This page is your portal for learning about the festivals and events that take place throughout the year.

Dates for Munich festivals given below are valid for 2012.

Heavenly Nectar

mid-March to mid-April
Munich's Paulaner monks perfected the art of strong beer brewing over 350 years ago. It's only gotten better since then. Claim your own stein of tastiest libation around at the Munich Starkbierfest. It's one of the best Munich festivals.
Read: Munich Strong Beer Festival

Treasure hunters delight

April 28 to May 6, 2012
Munich's oldest fair turns a usually quiet part of Munich into a bustling of trade, food and family fun. Pick up a bargain or just browse the stands at the Auer Dult.
Read: Munich Auer Dult

The joy of spring!

April 20 to May 6, 2012
Think Oktoberfest, then shrink it.
The Munich Spring Festival counts as the quieter counterpart to the world’s most famous beerfest, and that suits many people just fine.
Read: Munchener Fruhlingsfest (Munich Spring Festival)

Short films hit the big screen

June (exact dates to be announced)
Short films from around the world feature at this edgy film fest. Non-German language films under 15min spanning documentary, fiction, animation and experimentation are shown.
Read: Munich International Short Film Festival

Jakobidult

June 28 to July 5 . Second annual outdoor market. see Munich Auer Dult

Party like it's 999

July 14 to July 29, 2012
There are knights, jesters, jugglers, damsels, freaks and fools. The Kaltenberg Knights' Festival brings the Middle-Ages
to life.
Read: Kaltenberg Knights' Festival Tournament (Kaltenberger Ritterturnier)

The world is a village

June 29 to July 24, 2012
Munich's biggest summer festival proves that the world really can be a small place. Tollwood is 25 days of world cuisine, markets of ideas, music, outdoor theatre and environmental friendliness.
All in the wonderfully relaxed setting of the Olympic Park.
Read: Tollwood

Butlers and chambermaids get jiggy with it

June 15, 2012
The Kocherlball is a Munich tradition going back over a century. Servants of the aristocracy would meet at the crack of dawn to dance their way into day. It’s recreated in the Englisher Garten.
Read: Kocherball

Big gay and lesbian party

July 7 and 8
The city centre comes alive with drag, queens, high heels and feather boas for one weekend of gay and lesbian revellry. There are concerts, a parade and a high-heels race.
Read: Munich Christopher Street Day

Just dance

2012 dates to be announced
This event has worldwide dancers and choreographers rendezvousing in Munich for 10 days of workshops and performances. The workshops are open to professionals as well as enthusiastic amateurs.
Read: Dance Workshop Europe

The biggest show on Earth

September 22 to October 7, 2012
The world's biggest festival needs no introduction. Oktoberfest draws millions visitors of visitors to Munich every year for 16 days of unbridled "Party machen".
Read: Oktoberfest Munich

Kirchweihdult

October 20 to 28
Third annual outdoor market. see Munich Auer Dult

Run till you're red in the face

October 7
Those brave enough to attempt Munich’s annual 42km (26mi.) marathon will puff through the Old Town and loop through the Englischer Garten before high-tailing it to the Olympic Stadium for the grand finale.
(Read: Munich Marathon)

Oh come, all ye faithful...

Late November to late December
For many people, December in Munich means just one thing: Christmas markets.
Drink a hot, spicy Glühwein while chewing back on a half-metre hot dog and searching stands for the perfect presents for the folks back home.
Read: Munich Christmas Markets

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