Oktoberfest

Germany is famous throughout Europe, and indeed the world, for it's many festivals held at various times throughout the year. The most famous arguably being Oktoberfest, an annual beer festival held in Munich. Approximately 6 million liters of Bavarian beer are drunk at this festival! Entry to this is entirely free and non-ticketed.

The festival begins with an opening ceremony during which the mayor of Munich taps open a keg of beer to symbolize the commencement of the festivities. The festival itself lasts for approximately 2 weeks and there is a wide range of activities for all ages. Obviously, there is plenty to drink but you can also choose to enjoy the many thrilling fairground rides, shopping, eating or just taking in the atmosphere and watching the world go by.

Starkbierzeit

Another Munich beer festival is the Starkbierzeit which is German for "strong beer festival"--the title being self explanatory! The Starkbierzeit occurs during the Christian period of Lent where fasting and abstinence are encouraged. Legend has it that this practice dates back to a group of monks who originally brewed strong beer to give them sustenance throughout their fasting periods.

The beer drunk at this festival usually starts at a 7.5% strength and people come from far and wide to partake!

There is a plethora of festival genres in Germany at any given time, not just the traditional beer ones which immediately spring to mind when one thinks of Germany and its rich brewing tradition.

Hamburg International Short Film Festival

For film buffs there is the Hamburg International Short Film Festival which has been running under various guises and names since 1985. As a general rule, the films showcased here are cutting edge and tend to push the boundaries of conventional film making. Film schools and workshops are run in tandem with the festival.

Other Fairs and Festivals

The Frankfurt Book Fair, held in October, appeals to the more cerebral traveler and there are many cultural and musical celebrations and festivals held in Germany throughout the year.

For rock music lovers, do check out Rock Am Ring (held in the Nurburgring) and Rock Im Park (held in Nuremburg) over a weekend in June. These festivals are held in conjunction with MTV which both headline many top rock groups every year.

The listing of festivals and fairs in this article has only just touched the surface, and travelers will find that German festivals certainly have something for everyone!