Festivals & cultural celebrations

Munich's Oktoberfest is the world's largest "Volksfest" which is held annually in Munich and takes place from late September to the first weekend in October. More than 6 million visitors from around the world attend the event every year. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since the year 1810. Fourteen large, and numerous smaller tents, are located on the Theresienwiese, where vast quantities of specially brewed Oktoberfest beer, roast chicken and pork knuckles are served. Visitors can also enjoy numerous attractions, such as amusement rides, side stalls and games.

Pure Germany offers their customers a special Oktoberfest package, to make sure the event experience will be a true highlight. Guests will be met by a host or hostess in their hotel lobby and accompanied to the festival grounds. The host or hostess will lead the guests to their tent, make sure they find their allocated seat and - in case of a booked transfer service - lead the guests after the conclusion of the seat reservation to the meeting point for the return transfer. The package includes a seat reservation in a tent and 2 litres of beer per person and a meal.

Experience fantastic adventures and epic knight battles when Kaltenberg Castle transforms into a medieval tournament town for three weekends every July—with music and juggling, a variety of crafts and market activities, culinary delights in numerous taverns and pubs, knight camps, and the grand knight tournament show in the arena. The atmospheric start to this spectacular event is traditionally the Jugglers' Night, which takes place on the first day of the games, The highlight of the following days of the games is the magnificent knight tournament show. After dark, when the fanfares sound, everyone streams into the arena. The show focuses in particular on the horses, for example in trick riding, vaulting, or traditional jousting, lance fighting, and thrillingly choreographed battles, which the audience experiences up close. After the tournament, visitors still have hours to immerse themselves in the colorful hustle and bustle of the market stalls and knight camps, or watch the numerous artisans at work.

Every four years, the Bavarian town of Memmingen is the setting for a thrilling spectacle. Under the motto “Wallenstein 1630 in Memmingen – citizens of the town act out their history,” one of Europe's largest historical festivals takes place. The background to this week-long event is the historically documented stay of the famous general Wallenstein in Memmingen. With the participation of over 4,000 Memmingen citizens, a varied program is offered, ranging from adventurous equestrian games, historical church services, medieval parades, and authentic camp life to a crafts market. The various events can be visited throughout the week. The festival week begins with Wallenstein's impressive entry into Memmingen, accompanied by musketeers, pikemen, jugglers, market vendors, and minstrels in historically authentic costumes. The historical week ends with Wallenstein's elaborately staged departure from Memmingen.

The next Wallenstein Festival will take place from July 26 to August 2, 2026. Memmingen is easily accessible from Munich or Lake Constance, and a visit to the festival is a worthwhile excursion for young and old alike.

The Landshut Wedding is one of the world's largest historical festivals, taking place every four years in the summer and transforming the old town of Landshut into a fantastic medieval backdrop. With the participation of over 2,000 amateur actors, all dressed in historically authentic costumes, the magnificent historical wedding of Duke George the Rich and Hedwig of Poland in 1475 is reenacted. The highlights are the four Sundays when the wedding procession and wedding party parade through the historic old town of Landshut. Additional events include knight tournaments, dance performances, and a reenactment of camp life, including historical food prepared without modern equipment.

The next date for this enchanting spectacle is June 25–July 18, 2027. A visit to the festival can be easily organized from Munich. The distance is only about an hour's drive.

The Oberammergau Passion Play is the world's most famous Passion Play, performed every 10 years. It depicts the last five days of Jesus Christ's life, his suffering, death, and resurrection. The plays were first performed in 1634, after the citizens of Oberammergau had made a vow a year earlier to perform the Passion and Death of Christ every 10 years if no one else died of the plague that had ravaged the village. The Passion Play begins with Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem, follows the Passion story, shows the Last Supper, leads to the crucifixion, and culminates in the resurrection. The play consists of 12 sections. The first 6 sections are performed in the afternoon. After a three-hour intermission, the last 6 sections begin in the evening.

The performance of the Passion Play is an unforgettable and deeply moving experience. The next plays will take place in 2030.