Germany’s alternative beer festivals
The Bavarian beer extravaganza is Germany’s biggest festival and the world’s largest beer festival, but you don’t have to brave the crowds of Oktoberfest to enjoy the atmosphere of a traditional German beer festival. For those looking for an alternative to Oktoberfest, here are the best of Germany’s other beer festivals.
1. Berlin Beer Festival
The figures speak for themselves at Berlin’s annual summer Beer Festival – 2, 000 types of beer from over 300 breweries spread over 86 countries and 1 million yearly visitors. The international Beer Festival is held on Karl-Marx-Allee each August, earning the street the nickname of the ‘longest beer garden in the world’ with 2 km of beer and food stalls, live music and street entertainment.
2. Cannstatter Volksfest
The closest rival for Oktoberfest’s crown is the Cannstatter Volksfest, held in Stuttgart around the same time as the Munich mega-festival. Dating back to 1818, the historic event is the place to escape the throngs of tourists at Oktoberfest and experience a traditional beer festival packed with locals. You won’t be escaping the crowds though – around 4 million people turn up over the 2 weeks to wander the markets, sample locally brewed beers, ride the fairground attractions and watch the final day’s parade and fireworks display.
3. Bremen Freimarkt
Largely regarded as Germany’s oldest festival, Bremen’s annual Freimarkt, or ‘Free Fair’, held in late October in the fairy tale city of Bremen. A traditional folk festival dating back to 1809, the focal point of the festival is a huge medieval market, where revelers can tuck into local fish and sweet Schmalzkuchen doughnuts, enjoy the fairground rides and fireworks, and of course, satisfy their thirst with plenty of German beer.
4. Erlangen Bergkirchwein
Another popular Bavarian beer festival is the Bergkirchwein, or ‘Berg’, held each May in the small town of Erlangen. The little sister of Oktoberfest, the population of Erlangen expands to around 10 times its usual number during the event, with celebrations taking place in the town’s famous ‘Kellers’ – ancient beer cellars carved into the hillside, where local beers are served up around long wooden tables beneath the trees.
5. Kulmbach Bierwoche
A festival for true beer lovers, the Kulmbach Bierwoche (Beer Week) skips the trimmings and focuses solely on the beer itself. There’s plenty of it too, as the northern Bavarian region is renowned for harboring the highest concentration of beer manufacturers in the world and the town’s four main breweries have been hosting their annual celebration of local beers since 1939. Don’t miss out on the town’s most famous brew – Kulminator 28, known as the one of the world’s strongest beers.
6. Munich Frühlingsfest
If you can’t make it to Munich for Oktoberfest, don’t worry – the city also hosts the annual Frühlingsfest or Spring Festival as a precursor, in late April or May. Earning itself the nickname ‘Oktoberfest in miniature’, the Frühlingsfest even takes over the Oktoberfest grounds of Theresienwiese, with beer tents, carnival rides, traditional oompah bands and a huge outdoor beer garden.
Alternatives to Oktoberfest – Germany’s other beer festivals from Germany Things to Do