Stuttgart Events, Things to Do and Festivals 2014 / 2015

(Stuttgart, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)

In and around Stuttgart, visitors will be overwhelmed by the number of attractions and activities - even more so at festival times. Celebrating festivals is de rigueur for the German people, and many events are held all over the country.

Stuttgart is no exception, with perhaps its most famous event being the annual Beer Festival in September, which brings floods of international tourists to the city. Other well-attended events and annual things to do include the Fasnet Carnival each February, the Spring Fair in April, the Stuttgart Jazz Open every July, the Weindorf in September and the Volksfest each October.

It is worth noting that the majority of the festivals occur during the summer and autumn, and invariably involve a great deal of eating and drinking.

Stuttgart Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• International Dog Sled Racing - held in Todtmoos every year, attended by hundreds of huskies and their handlers, together with thousands of spectators

February

• Fasnet Carnival - staged in the Black Forest at Villingen Schwenningen, with six days of balls and colourful costume parades

March

• Long Night of the Museums - takes place annually in March when all of the city's museums and art galleries stay open very late, with screenings, guided tours and plays part of the festivities

April

• Spring Fair - held from the middle of April and lasting a total of three weeks, with thrilling rides and a Ferris Wheel, beer tents and all kinds of traditional food

May

• Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film - takes place annually in May, screening the best of recent animated movies

June

• Christopher Street Day - late June / early July, a major gay celebration with colourful street processions and plenty of late night parties
• Father's Day (Vatertag) - held each year on Ascension Day, a time for father's to enjoy a boozy family lunch at a local pub

July

• Lantern Festival - held at Killesberg Park in early July and featuring a famous fireworks display, plus fairground rides, food and beer
• Stuttgart Jazz Open - kicks off mid-July annually for a week, with internationally acclaimed jazz performers at a city centre open air venue and a local jazz club
• Hamburg Fish Market - hosted over a ten-day period in mid-July on the Karlsplatz (Karl Square), featuring a wealth of tasty seafood and vendors arriving from the German city of Hamburg
• Bohnenviertelfest - held mid-July in the downtown Old Quarter. This street music festival includes endless food and drinks

August

• Stuttgart Summer Festival (Sommerfest) - runs for three days in early August and features stages around the Theatre Lake and the Schlossplatz, with diverse international musical performances and other entertainment. Food, beer and son-et-lumiere round it off
• Seenachtfest - a celebration of summer at lovely Lake Constance, held every August with street performances, water sports shows and lots of live music

September

• Stuttgart Beer Festival - kicks off towards the end of September and continues through to early October, with beer tents holding 5,000 people each, fairground rides, unlimited food and a huge open market attracting literally millions of beer-loving visitors
• Weindorf - a wine festival held in early September, running for ten days and boasting every German wine you've ever heard of

October

• Volksfest - literally the People's Festival, staged every October. This popular gathering originated as an agricultural fair and has grown to become nothing short of a huge event featuring a French Village, the ubiquitous beer tents and lots of food

November

• Esslingen Medieval Market - kicks off in November annually and runs through to December, with costumed jesters, knights, sorcerers, traditional musical instruments and crafts. Locals dress up and speak in a medieval dialect still used today

December

• Christmas Market - world-famous as the oldest and most beautiful traditional Christmas market in Germany, running for the four weeks preceding Christmas