July kicks off the summer festival season in Germany and offers plenty of excuses to make the most of the sunny weather. From elegant wine festivals to wild street parties, here are 10 events you definitely shouldn’t miss.
June 1st – July 3rd: Berlin Fashion Week
The month of July kicks off with a calendar highlight for fashionistas – Berlin Fashion Week. As always, the event will showcase the most up-and-coming contemporary designers, with Gerritt Jacob, Ioannes, David Koma and Buzigahill among those presenting their new styles this year.
Alongside the usual list of VIP catwalk events, there are also several events that are open to the public, including Der Berliner Salon and the WILLIAM FAN presents FAN GELATO Pop Up Opening.
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July 4th – July 6th: Cologne Pride Street Festival
Cologne has one of the largest and most vibrant LGBTQ+ communities in the country, and the city’s love of carnivals and street parties makes Pride a must-see event.
A huge and colourful street festival kicks off at Heumarkt, Alter Markt, Gürzenichstraße und Elogiusplatz on July 4th and runs throughout the weekend until Sunday night. You can find three open-air stages in these areas, as well as a podcast stage featuring queer podcasts, a beach chillout zone with laidback Ibiza sounds, and plenty of places to buy food and drinks.
READ ALSO: 8 of Germany’s best music festivals to go this summer
On Sunday, the CSD parade will see an estimated 1.4 million people pass through the centre of Cologne, complete with exuberant costumes and colourful floats blasting the best pop hits.
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July 3rd – July 8th: Freiburg Wine Festival
Anyone who likes a tipple from one of Germany’s most famous wine-growing regions should visit this year’s wine festival in Freiburg im Breisgau.
Set against a backdrop of Freiburg Münster in the heart of the picturesque Altstadt, the festival will feature the best creations from local wineries and vineyards, along with a packed roster of music and entertainment.
As is customary, the five-day event will be opened by the local Weinkönigin, or wine queen, and her train of wine princesses. Freiburg’s top culinary talents will also be on hand serving regional delicacies like Kasespätzel and Wurstsalat.
July 5th: Rhine in Flames, Bingen & Rüdesheim
The “Rhine in Flames” fireworks spectacle takes place along the most beautiful stretches of the Rhine every year from May to September. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Andreas Arnold
If you’ve ever wanted to see the Rhine ablaze with the lights of a spectacular fireworks display, then Rhine in Flames should be high on your bucket list.
Rhine in Flames events happen at intervals throughout the year, but this July it’ll be taking place not too far from Frankfurt, Wiesbaden and Mainz on a stretch of the river that is bookended by two pretty towns: Bingen and Rüdesheim.
Music and refreshments are available at the best viewing spots, but if you really want a spectacular view of the Rhine set alight by dazzling fireworks, travelling by boat can be a truly other-worldly experience.
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July 4th to July 20th: Kiliani Volksfest, Würzburg
The Kiliani Volksfest is named after Saint Kilian, the patron saint of Würzburg, whose relics are still paraded through the city during the festival.
The event originated as a religious celebration commemorating the Irish missionary and martyr who brought Christianity to the region in the 7th century
These days, the festival grounds at the Talavera near the Main River are transformed into a large amusement park with rides and games.
READ ALSO: Eight of the most beautiful German villages to visit this summer
This being Bavaria, visitors can also expect to encounter beer tents, where local breweries serve food and special festival beers at long wooden tables.
July 12th: Rave the Planet, Berlin
The spiritual successor to Berlin’s Love Parade, Rave the Planet is a music festival dedicated to electronic music culture, community, transformation, and love!
The event takes place on Strasse des 17. Juni, between the Brandenburg Gate and the Großer Stern, and runs from 2pm to 10pm. The event, which is free to attend, is a wild combination of rave and demonstration.
Under the motto “Our Future Is Now,” the organisers want us to dance, dream, and stand up for a better world together.
July 12th – July 13th: Formula E, Berlin
Rave the Planet isn’t the only party in town on the middle weekend in July. Just south of Strasse des 17, Juni, Berlin’s much loved Tempelhofer Feld will be transformed into a temporary racing circuit.
Like Formula 1, but without the noise, Formula E races are scheduled to take place on both days of the weekend. Britain’s Oliver Howland currently leads the overall standings, ahead of Germany’s Pascal Wehrlein.
July 18th – 27th: Kinderzeche, Dinkelsbühl
Located along Germany’s Romantic Road, the idyllic town of Dinkelsbühl is worth a visit at any time of year, but the Kinderzeche folk festival is when the town and its residents truly come alive.
Translated as “Children’s Feast”, the Kinderzeche dates back to the 30 Years’ War in the 17th Century, when children apparently saved the historic city from siege by pleading with a Swedish colonel for mercy.
These days, children of all ages still perform reenactments of the event on Sundays and Mondays throughout July, while adults wear traditional dress and carry flowers to celebrate their city’s heritage.
Weekends July 11th – 27th (weekends): Kaltenberg Knights’ Tournament, near Munich
Knights compete in a jousting tournament at the medieval festival in Kaltenberg. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand
If you’re a fan of all thing’s medieval, you’ll adore the pomp and pageantry on offer at this year’s Knight’s Tournament, (Rittertournier) in the Upper Bavarian town of Kaltenberg.
In the atmospheric setting of Kaltenberg Castle, surrounded by rolling hills, visitors can step into the shoes of medieval royalty and enjoy music, juggling and jousting.
READ ALSO: Hotels, transport and food: How the cost of travel in Germany is rising this summer
The tournaments will take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays over three weekends in July, and visitors can also enjoy beer halls, food stalls and family entertainment throughout the castle grounds.
July 25th – August 10th: Sommerwerft Theatre Festival, Frankfurt
If you’re yearning for a bit of culture over the holidays, look no further than the Sommerweft Theatre Festival in Frankfurt, which brings together an eclectic mix of experimental theatre, contemporary dance, live music, and film screenings, all set against the banks of the River Rhine and Frankfurt’s iconic skyline.
With its focus on diversity, creativity and togetherness, the festival features local and international artists and a daily roster of interactive workshops, alongside street food stalls and open-air bars.
Do you have an event in Germany that you’d like us to highlight? Let us know by emailing news@thelocal.de.
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