Festivals in Germany: 2012
- Here's a list of the most important events in Germany for 2012. For more information about these and other events, please visit www.cometogermany.com and www.whatsonwhen.com.
- NOTE: Before planning a trip around a festival, make sure that you verify the festival dates at the festival or local TI's website.
- Related travel information in Germany.
| Jan 1 | New Year's Day | Germany |
| Jan 6 | Holy Three Kings' Day (Epiphany, 12th day after Christmas) | Bavaria & Black Forest |
| Feb 9-19 | Berlin International Film Festival | Berlin |
| Feb 16-21 | Fasching (Mardi Gras carnival season) | Germany |
| April 6 | Good Friday | Germany |
| April 8 | Easter Sunday | Germany |
| April-May | Spring Festival ("Frühlingsfest" — carnival rides, beer tents) | Munich |
| May 1 | May Day (maypole dances, beer drinking) | Germany |
| May 17 | Ascension Day (religious festival) | Germany |
| May 25-28 | Carnival of Cultures | Berlin |
| May 25-28 | Meistertrunk Show (medieval costumes, parties in the Biergartens) | Rothenburg |
| May 28 | Pentecost Monday | Southern Germany |
| June | Fressgass' Fest | Frankfurt |
| June 7 | Corpus Christi (religious festival) | Southern Germany |
| June 22-24 | City Festival | Dresden |
| June-Sept | Wine Fests (weekends) | Mosel River region |
| July 13-22 | Kinderzeche Festival | Dinkelsbühl |
| July 14 | Lichter Festival (fireworks, music) | Köln |
| Aug 3-5 | Berlin International Beer Festival | Berlin |
| Aug 15 | Assumption (religious festival, closures) | Bavaria |
| Late Aug | Museum Riverbank Festival (Museumsuferfest) | Frankfurt |
| Aug 31-Sept 18 | Musikfest Berlin (music festival) | Berlin |
| Sept 5-7 | Reichsstadt Festival (historical celebration, fireworks) | Rothenburg |
| Sept-Oct | Various Wine Festivals (weekends) | Rhine River region, including Bacharach & St. Goar |
| Sept 22-Oct 17 | Oktoberfest (beer tents, parade, carnival games, and rides ) | Munich |
| Oct 3 | German Unification Day (national holiday, closures) | Germany |
| Oct 31 | Reformation Day (celebrates Martin Luther) | Germany |
| Nov 1 | All Saints' Day (religious festival, some closures) | Southern Germany |
| Nov 1-4 | JazzFest Berlin | Berlin |
| Dec | Christmas Markets | Nürnberg, Berlin, Köln, Frankfurt, Rothenburg, Munich, Würzburg & more |
| Dec 6 | St. Nicholas Day (Nikolaustag; parades) | Germany |
| Dec 24 | Christmas Eve (Heilige Abend) | Germany |
| Dec 25 | Christmas | Germany |
| Dec 26 | St. Stephen's Day (religious festival) | Germany |
| Dec 31 | New Year's Eve (Silvester; fireworks) | Germany |
For lots more information, check out our best-selling Rick Steves' Guidebooks — or join us on one of our free-spirited tours in Germany.