Stuttgart Frühlingsfest (Spring Fest)
Stuttgart's Frühlingsfest (or Spring Fest in English) is the first large festival of the year. Similar to the Oktoberfest in Munich, Frühlingsfest is filled with carnival rides, carnival games and beer tents, very large beer tents.
The only real difference between the Stuttgart Spring Fest and the Oktoberfest (or Stuttgart's Volksfest in the fall) is that the Spring Fest is a bit smaller, lasts one week longer and is held in the spring instead of the fall.
If you aren't in Germany in the fall, or missed Oktoberfest or Volksfest, then you are in for a treat at the Stuttgart Frühlingsfest!
(More Information on Beer Drinking Traditions, Volksfest)
2007, April 21-May 13
Open daily 11:00-23:00, open to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays
Cannstatter Wasen
Take the U-Train to Cannstatter Wasen or Mercedesstraße or
Take the S-Bahn to Bad Cannstatt
Frühlingsfest Website (German Only)
At the Volksfest, Stuttgart version of Oktoberfest.
Each year Stuttgart Hosts a wide array of festivals. From the Spring Fest (Frühlingsfest) to the Weihnactsmarket (Christmas market); there is almost always a festival going on in Stuttgart. Unlike wider-known festivals, Stuttgart's festivals mostly attract Germans. You won't feel like you are in a tourist trap, but instead will feel like you are in the middle of Germany.
Frühlingsfest (April-May)
Hamburger Fish Market (July)
Stuttgarter Weindorf (Aug-Sept)
Volksfest (Sept-Oct)
Christmas Market (Nov-Dec)
Stuttgart's Hamburg Fish Market
Hamburg is famous for their fish market. It starts at 5am and is over by 10am on Sundays in Hamburg. The Fish Market is often frequented by yound people on their way home for a night on the town.
Stuttgart's Hamburg Fish Market is a 10 day celebration of Hamburg specialities. You can find fresh fish sandwiches, smoked fish, fried fish, clams, etc, etc. Or you can enjoy other shops and specialties from northern Germany. Who says you can't experience northern Germany in Stuttgart?
2007, July 5-July 15
Open daily 10:00-23:00, open at 11:00 on Sundays
Karlsplatz
Take the U-Train to Charlottenplatz
Take the S-Bahn to Hauptbahnhof or Stadtmitte and walk
Stuttgarter Weindorf
Stuttgart is a huge wine region. Going out towards the Max-Eyed See, or coming into town from the airport, you can see many vines growing on the hillside. Because of the climate, wine growers must grow their grapes at an angle to the sun that maximizes the sun's energy. This produces excellent wine.
The Stuttgart Weindorf began in 1974 and is located on Marketplatz and Schillerplatz in Stuttgart. The festival features over 300 different Wuttemberg wines. For example, Whether Trollinger, Riesling, Kerner, Müller-Thurgau, Schwarzriesling, Ruländer, Schillerwein, Lemberger or Weißherbst. It is a difficult to choose where to start.
Many Germany will stop in one of the alcoves, grab something to eat (Zwiebelkuchen, Onion Cake, is a prominent choice), and buy a bottle or two to split among friends.
Like many beer garden, or festivals in Germany, you have to pay a deposit on your glass. This also means that you can take it home at the end of the night to use as an excellent souvenir.
2006, August 30-September 10
Everyday 11:00-23:00
Marktplatz, Schillerplatz
Take the U-Train to Charlottenplatz or Rathaus
Take the S-Bahn to Hauptbahnhof or Stadtmitte and walk
Go to Stuttgarter Weindorf Official Website (German Only)
Inside a beer tent
Stuttgart Volksfest
The Stuttgart Volksfest (People's Fest) takes place on the Cannstatter Wasen every fall. It is Stuttgart's version of the Oktoberfest. Currently, it is the second largest beer fest in Germany with a total of 9, very large, beer tents. Because the Stuttgart Volksfest is not as well-known, it is frequented by less tourists and more Germans.
The Stuttgart Volksfest was began in 1885 by King Wilhelm in celebration of the opening of the Hohenheim University. Every year since, the locals gather in the fall to celebrate together. It is also the perfect time for the beer companies will tap their new beers for the year. The official opening occurs in the Schwaben Bräu tent on the first day. The Festival officially begins after the mayor taps the first barrel. It is sight to see with people wearing traditional clothing and festive music.
Compared to the Oktoberfest, the Volksfest has more, scarier, and a wider range of carnival rides. The world’s largest ferries wheel marks the Stuttgart skyline for the few weeks. Other rides include a drop tower, two haunted houses, wild mouse race, a roller coaster and many others.
Most tourists will head out to the Oktoberfest while they are in Germany. Prices are high in Munich, lodging is hard to find, seats are scares, and crowds can be difficult to weed through. You will still find the high prices, full beer tents and crowds at the Stuttgart Volksfest, but it is harder to find the international tourists amoung the beer-loving Germans.
While at the Volksfest a traditional highlight is to get a mass beer (1 liter) with a Göckele (Schwäbish, not German, for chicken in the Schwabish dialect). Once the evening has gotten underway most people will get up on the benches and sing. Many of the songs are old and sung year after year, English and German. A favorite at the fest is 99 Red Balloons (this one is in German, 99 Luftballons) and Brian Adam's Summer of '69. Don't be surprised to hear some other oldies as well.
2007, September 23-October 8
Daily from 11:00 to 23:00 and until midnight on Friday and Saturdays.
Cannstatter Wasen. (see map here)
Take the U-Train to Cannstatter Wasen or Mercedesstraße or
Take the S-Bahn to Bad Cannstatt.
Official Web-Site of the Volksfest (German Only)
Every once in awhile the Germans will raise their glasses, sing:
"ein Prosit, ein Prosit, der Gemütlichkeit,
ein Prosit, ein Prosit, der Gemütlichkeit,
Eins, zwei, drei, gsuffa!"
and then they will drink their beer together.
Gsuffa sounds like tsuffa and it means "drunk", not as in "to be drunk" but as the past form of "to drink" in Bayerish (a German dialect spoken by people in Bavaria).
Sometimes instead of “Eins, zwei, drei, gsuffa!" you will hear:
“Zicke Zacke Zicke Zacke
Hoi! Hoi! Hoi!
Zicke Zacke Zicke Zacke
Hoi! Hoi! Hoi!”
Stuttgart Christmas Market
Weihnachtsmarkt
Between the Schlossplatz, Schillerplatz, and Marketplatz is the largest Christmas market in Germany and maybe Europe. More than 200 stands offer Christmas ornaments, knick-knacks, toys, clothing, mulled wine (Gluewein), and plenty of food. Try the Gluewein, it will keep you warm; just don't forget there is a deposit on the glass (usually 2 Euros). If you like you can take the glass home with you are a nice souvenir.
The Christmas Market has been taking place in Stuttgart for over 300 years. It is so famous that the Swiss come up by the bus full to visit the Christmas Market.
2006, November 30-December 23
Daily from 10:00-21:00
Marktplatz, Schlossplatz (see map here)
Take the U-Train to Charlottenplatz, Schlossplatz or Hauptbahnhof
Take the S-Bahn to Hauptbahnhof
Official WebSite (German Only)
Enjoying the traditional Christmas Market drink--Glühwein
