The program of the Spring Festival (Frühlingsfest)
Spring Festival in Munich: Folk festival on the Theresienwiese
Fancy that Oktoberfest feeling in spring? The first big folk festival on Munich's Theresienwiese runs from April to beginning of May: At the Spring Festival, two marquees and over 100 showmen with rides and stalls provide Bavarian flair and fun. A popular supporting program from flea market to fireworks awaits you. All information about the festival and opening times.
More actions
Supporting program at the "small Oktoberfest"
The people of Munich are getting their dirndls and lederhosen out of the wardrobe again: the Munich Showmen's Spring Festival opens the folk festival season in Munich. Around 30 rides and over 70 stalls entertain you for two weeks on the Theresienwiese.
Traditionally, the "little sister of the Oktoberfest" offers a supporting program with an opening parade (and free beer!), the largest flea market in Bavaria organized by the BRK on the first Saturday, the classic car meeting of the Automobil-Club München and a day of customs. Fireworks are also on the program on two Friday evenings and there are reduced prices on the family afternoons on Tuesdays.
Music and culinary delights: Bayernland and Hippodrom festival tents
Two large festival tents attract beer and party lovers at the spring festival: The Festhalle Bayernland of the Schöniger family (serving Augustiner beer) and the former Wiesn tent Hippodrom of the Krätz family (serving Spaten beer). In both festival tents, live bands and brass bands play Bavarian folk music and lively pop music every day.
Admission to the tents is free, reservations can be made on the festival tents' websites. In addition, a wheat beer garden invites you to enjoy a beer with Bavarian delicacies in fine weather.
Showmen and stalls: attractions at the Spring Festival
Once again this year, you can expect a mixture of traditional and modern rides and amusements, from bumper cars to ghost trains and throwing booths. The highlight is the over 50-meter-high Ferris wheel, from which riders can enjoy a wonderful view over the Theresienwiese and Munich, this year for the first time with closed gondolas.
Children's carousels are available for younger guests. Those who like a fast pace will get their money's worth on rides such as Top Spin No. 1 or the new Predator rollover carousel or the 50-meter-high XXL Racer. There are also plenty of treats waiting for you at the showmen's stalls. On Tuesdays, there will be family afternoons with discounted prices from 12 noon to 7 pm.
The Spring Festival at the Theresienwiese at a glance
- Date: Two weeks in April/May
- Location: Theresienwiese, in the northern part streets 1 and 2 between Wirtsbuden- and Schaustellerstraße
- Supporting program: Flea market, vintage car parade, fireworks, day of Bavarian customs, family afternoons (with cheaper prices for the rides)
- Marquees: Bayernland and Hippodrom as well as Weißbiergarten
- Rides and booths: Over 100 carnies with 30 rides, including the Oktoberfest Ferris Wheel, bumper cars, and shooting galleries.
- Since when has the festival been held? 1965
- Who is the organizer? VMS Veranstaltungsgesellschaft der Münchner Schausteller GmbH (Munich Showmen's Association)
Getting to the Spring Festival
The easiest way to get to the Spring Festival is to take the U4/U5 to Theresienwiese station. If you are traveling by S-Bahn, get off at Hackerbrücke station and follow the signs (or the cheerful people in traditional costume). The Hermann-Lingg-Straße streetcar stop (streetcar 18/19) is also nearby, as is the Goetheplatz stop on the U3 and U6 subway lines.
Giant flea market on the Theresienwiese
People rummaged, strolled and bargained at the giant flea market on the Theresienwiese on the first Saturday of the spring festival. Bavaria's largest flea market remains in the trusted hands of the Bavarian Red Cross (BRK). After a long time, the City of Munich had re-tendered the flea market, experience has prevailed, after all, the BRK has been the successful organizer for over 30 years. Around 2,000 vendors and thousands of visitors populated the bargain hunt.
Day of Bavarian customs: dance and music
The Spring Festival celebrates Bavarian culture on the Theresienwiese with the Day of Bavarian Customs. Bavarian traditional costume clubs parade onto the festival grounds with horse-drawn carriages from 11 am. Brass bands, Schuhplattler and Goaßlschnalzer play free folk music in the festival tents or entertain as street musicians with dancing and good humor.
Classic car meeting
On the first Sunday of the festival, well-kept classic cars rolled onto the Theresienwiese: For the 18th time, the Automobil-Club München e.V. (ACM) invited to a meeting at the spring festival. From early in the morning, classic cars rolled up to the southern section under the Bavaria to meet the astonished eyes of visitors young and old: Cuddly VW Beetles, flashy Mantas, classy Porsches and extravagant sleds from the USA. The proud owners of the vehicles, which are at least 30 years old, came from all over Bavaria.