As the days get longer and temperatures rise, people in Germany look forward to getting out and about again. Here’s our pick of the best events to help you defrost and shake off the winter blues.
Winter in Germany can feel like a test of your ability to endure cold days and grey skies, especially this year, which brought several heavy winter storms and weeks of freezing temperatures.
But March can bring what feels like a sudden leap into spring. The days get longer, the clocks go forward and brightly coloured flowers appear in the previously brown and grey landscape.
All of this makes March the perfect time to get out and about, sharing food and drinks with your friends and family and discovering new experiences. Luckily, there are plenty of great events on to help you do just that.
March 6th – 29th: Strong Beer Festival, Munich
Spring season folk festivals (Volksfesten) tend to start at least a couple of weeks later, but those who like to celebrate the end of winter with a large Maß can do so at Munich’s Strong Beer Festival (Starkbierfest).
The tradition goes back to a time when monks brewed strong, nourishing beers to help them survive the weeks of fasting during Lent.
You can find local beer-related celebrations all around Munich during this time, with beer gardens and breweries serving up their strongest brews. But the main event, called “Salvator”, takes place at Nockherberg.
Another notable event takes place at the Augustiner-Keller where, from February 26th to March 28th, the brewery’s quaffable dark doppelbock which had been stored through the winter is served in a dark brick-laden vault.
READ ALSO: Germany’s lesser-known beers that are worth a try
Deputy Mayor of the City of Munich taps the first keg at a Strong Beer fest event. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Peter Kneffel
March 8th: International Women’s Day, Berlin
International Women’s Day is marked around the world on March 8th each year. The commemorative day is of particular importance in Germany, where its roots can be traced back to the German women’s movement in the early 20th century, and specifically the works of German women’s rights activist Clara Zetkin.
In the city-state of Berlin International Women’s Day is a public holiday, but since the date falls on a Sunday this year it doesn’t amount to a day off work for most employees. However there will still plenty going on to mark the occasion.
Three major demonstrations for women’s rights and gender equality are planned including: a rally by Frauen*kampftag, starting 11:30am at Oranienplatz and moving to the front of the Rotes Rathaus, the ‘Purple Ride’ bicycle demonstration, starting at noon at Mariannenplatz and moving to Leopoldplatz, and a flower laying event called ‘Rosen für Clara’ in which people will gather for speeches and lay flowers at the the Clara Zetkin monument in Berlin-Marzahn around 4pm.
Or to enjoy the holiday outside, you might head to the Haus Natur und Umwelt, where women enter free on March 8th.
Leading up to the holiday itself are some other interesting events to check like the ‘Beyond Carnations and Chocolates festival’ at Gretchen on March 7th from 8pm (donation-based tickets), and screenings of feminist, queer and non-binary films as part of the ‘Final Girls Berlin’ festival at City Kino Wedding, from March 4th to the 8th.
More events listed here.
For those outside of Berlin, there are also women’s day rallies and events organised around major cities across the nation. So keep your eyes out for an event near you.
March 14th: Seed Festival, Düsseldorf
Gardeners in west Germany looking forward to the planting season may want to consider dropping by the seed festival (Saatgutfestival) in Düsseldorf.
According to event organisers, the festival is about diversity, ecology and environmental protection. Here private gardeners can collect some free seeds as well as knowledge about the cultivation and preservation of rare and old plant varieties.
The focus here is on edible plants, and in particular those that taste good. So stop by and grab some seeds if you’d like to add a new heirloom tomato to your garden or perhaps a different colour carrot or potato.
March 17th: St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, Nationwide
Each year on St. Patrick’s Day – which celebrates the patron saint of Ireland – you can expect to see Irish pubs around Germany decked out in a sea of bright green, with traditional folk or pop music blaring.
Whether Irish or not, anyone up for a bit of ‘craic’ and a few drinks will be welcomed with good humour at these watering holes. So, in a pinch, you can just head on down to your nearest bar to celebrate.
Participants in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Lübeck walk at the Holsten Gate. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Georg Wendt
Alternatively in some of Germany’s larger cities you may find a St. Patrick’s Day festival or parade.
Munich’s vibrant celebration takes place this year on March 14th and 15th. On the Saturday food stalls and a stage for music and dancing will be set up in front of the Feldherrnhalle on Odeonsplatz. Then on the Sunday the party reaches its climax with a parade starting at Münchner Freiheit and ending at Odeonsplatz.
March 19th – 22nd: Leipzig Book Fair
Leipzig’s Book Fair, or Buchmesse is the country’s biggest literary get together in the spring season, drawing in a crowd of readers, authors, publishers and media companies from Germany and beyond.
The event dates back to 1632, and this year’s programme features 2,500 contributors and consists of more than 2,000 events, including live readings, panel discussions and hands-on activities.
This year the fair is again being held in conjunction with Manga-Comic-Con and ‘Leipzig liest’ reading festival.
More information about the festival here.
March 19th: Scottish Connections Burns Night, Berlin
Subtitled “a night of female voices and whiskey”, this one-time event in Berlin comes highly recommended for Scots in Berlin as well as fans of the poet Robert Burns, and also anyone who enjoys a good Scottish whisky.
You can expect Scottish women-owned businesses, traditional music, ceilidh dancing, comedy, poetry, haggis and a whisky tasting.
The event takes place at Kalle Halle in Berlin’s Neukölln neighbourhood.
Admissions is free, but guests need to register in advance. More information here.
March 20th – April 19th: Hamburger Frühlingsdom, Hamburg
From a meteorological perspective, spring officially begins with the spring equinox on March 20th, and if you’re around Hamburg you can celebrate the coming season at Hamburger Dom.
Here you’ll find all the wild carnival rides you can expect at any big German festival, and of course an abundance of drinks and German festival foods like Pommes, Bratwurst and crêpes.
The Dom dates back to 1337 when local Hamburg merchants and others were allowed to take shelter in St Mary’s Cathedral. It is now held three times a year, including in summer and winter. The event takes place in the Heiligengeistfeld in St. Pauli.
The event also effectively kicks off the start of spring festival season, so if you can’t make it to Hamburg this year, just keep your eyes peeled for other spring festivals that will be popping up at German cities around the country from late March through April.