Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

Some hours more and the largest festival in the world will be over. I miss visiting Oktoberfest this year..hopefully next year again. I was there thrice but did not make it this time. I heard over the German television tonight that around 6.5 millions of liters of beer are consumed during this year's festival. Around 5.7 millions of visitors from Germany and around the world attended this great fair.

one of the biggest beer tents in Oktoberfest. taken during our third visit last 2010.

one of the carnival rides in Oktoberfest.

Jura Volksfest Parade, Neumarkt, Germany

Jura Volksfest is an annual festival held every month of August in Neumarkt i.d. Oberpfalz (Upper Palatinate) in Bavaria, Germany. The highlight of the festival is the so-called Volksfestzug or the festival parade held in the Altstadt or Old City of Neumarkt.

This year's celebration runs from August 12- 22, 2011.

lovely ladies with their maroon costumes.

horses with carriages decorated with colourful ornaments. You can see the Town Hall with its huge watch in the background. The parade took place last August 15, 2011. I was there!

Europe Sightseeing- Famous Festivals To Experience

This is one thing I love in Europe, the many festivals all year round. Whether you are in England, Germany, Brussels, Sweden, Belgium , Austria or in any European countries, there are a lot of fairs and festivals that are taking place from time to time.


Unlike American festivals that are usually one-day affairs with a parade and may feature cotton candy, European festivals are completely different. These festivals often last from four days to a month featuring unique attractions and activities. Our friends from Taylor Herring who are event and festival pr experts come up with a list of the many festivals to see and experience in Europe:

Edinburgh Hogmanay Festival

This festival takes place in Scotland every year to ring in the new year. The word 'Hogmanay' means holiday and that is definitely what guests and natives enjoy for four days. There are special film screenings along with Torchlight parades through and around beautiful Gothic castles. Not unlike festivals around the world, one of the major highlights is a gigantic fireworks display.

Couleur Cafe Festival

This 3 day festival in Brussels features live musical performances on several stages. Among the guests slated to appear in 2011 is Snoop Dogg.

St Patrick's Festival

This event began in 1995 in Dublin to bring some of the long neglected traditions of St. Patrick's Day to the homeland. In 2011 the festival is expected to attract 650,000 live spectators with countless more being given access via TV and online streaming. There will be music of all genre as well as crafts,art displays and fireworks. One outstanding attraction of this festival is a 150' tall Ferris Wheel.

Fasching or Carnival in Germany. These participants were acting like vampires.

Dusseldorf Carnival

This carnival is held in Germany each year from November to March. There are parades such as the Rosenmantag Parade featuring everything from clowns parading down the street on stilts to beautifully decorated floats. On the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday, women converge on the town hall to seize the right to govern for a day. During the 'Drag Queens Race' men race through the streets wearing high heels and sporting dresses of all lengths to include accessories.


Kiruna Snow Festival

This festival takes place in Sweden from January 29th to 31st each year. There are snow sculpting contests which not only attract children but serious artists both on the professional and amateur level.

As with many festivals, the Kiruna Snow Festival would not be complete without a fashion show featuring clothing for all reasons and all seasons. The Mr. Snowman contest is quite different from what the name implies since this is a contest where men vie for a strongman title. Among the special foods offered at the Kiruna Snow Festival are reindeer burgers and bear steaks.

Whether you're looking for snow, good food, live music, carnival atmosphere a European Festival has everything your heart could desire.

Famous Festivals to Experience When Visiting Germany

I believed I am very lucky to witness and experience some of the most famous and fabulous festivals in Germany. If you have the chance to visit Germany, don't miss the events and festivals that you might only experience once in your lifetime.

Chinese Carnival in Dietfurt, Bavaria. taken during our visit last March 2011.

Carnival in Germany

Carnival, also called the “Fifth Season” in Germany, is a festival celebrated throughout the many regions of Germany. Each region’s celebrations are unique to the area. Carneval begins six days prior to the fasting period of the Lenten season which begins with Ash Wednesday. This time is used to celebrate with feasting, parades and floats, dancing in the streets and costume balls. The most popular parade is the televised Rose Monday Parade in Cologne.

The Carnival in Cologne, Mainz and Düsseldorf are among the famous ones in Germany.

inside one of the beer tents in Oktoberfest in Munich. taken last September 2010.

Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest is an enormous two week beer festival held in Munich, Germany. Starting in late September until the first Sunday in October, this world famous celebration offers amusement rides, parades with brass bands and delicious Bavarian cuisine. Beer tents are everywhere! Oktoberfest is a colorful and exciting extravaganza. Last 2010 marked the 200th anniversary of its beginning. This popular German tradition annually hosts over 6 million visitors worldwide on the more than 100 acres Theresienwiese. All ages enjoy Oktoberfest!

International Film Festival in Berlin

International film lovers flock to Berlin every year for the International Film Festival. Over 400 films, with many premiers, from around the world are highlighted during the Berlin International Film Festival. Known as Berlinale, this is one of the most important European film festivals, besides Cannes and Venice. Over 200,000 people attend the star-studded parties and special events annually. If you love movies, this is one festival you do not want to miss. Located at Potsdamer Platz, it is easy to get there using the subway/metro. A free shuttle bus is also offered.

Don't forget to bring a lot of Euro currency in Berlin. If not, you can also get a caxton fx card for all your shopping needs. This city is a great place for shopping, entertainment, dining, cinema, concerts and opera.

Love Parade

Would you love to be part of a huge mass of music lovers dancing in the streets? Love Parade is an enormous dance party held in July in Berlin, Germany. DJs from around the world come together to participate in this all-nighter. Get plenty of sleep before the party because this is one weekend where you will not want to miss a thing. Local nightclubs and restaurants stay open all night. Not for the fainthearted, however, the Love Parade has been known to get wild!

Thanks to the food and drinks PR experts from Taylor Herring for compiling this article.

Travel Snapshot from Neumarkt Volksfest, Germany

the Ferris wheel and other carnival rides in Neumarkt Volksfest, also called Jura Volksfest in Bavaria, Germany. It is an annual festival held every month of August.