Munich City Guide - events

Oktoberfest
At the end of September/beginning of October each year all roads in Munich lead to the Theresienwiese, a giant grass meadow about the size of 20 football fields near the centre of the city. The occasion is the world's biggest party, the Munich Oktoberfest. The field becomes a beer-drinking city, complete with its own post office, police force and fire department, and most importantly numerous huge tents, erected by the various Bavarian breweries, that serve as massive beer halls. The first keg is tapped in ceremonial style to open the two-week celebration, which draws hundreds of thousands of revellers from all around the world. Apart from the rollicking beer halls where traditional Bavarian bands belt out their old favourites, the festival offers a host of carnival games and fun park rides, as well as stalls selling a range of German delicacies.
Venue:
Date: 20 September to 5 October 2008
Website: www.oktoberfest.de

Fasching (Carnival)
Marking the period before Lent, carnival season or Fasching in Munich is a time of parades, elaborate costumes, masked balls and street parties that reaches its peak on Shrove Tuesday and is when most of the festivities take place, including the traditional dance of the market women. The streets are lined with food and drink merchants and the whole city turns up at Viktualienmarkt in fancy dress costume to eat, drink and dance the night away. For more information contact Fremdenverkehrsamt München on (0)89 23 396 500 or email tourismus@muenchen.de
Venue: Viktualienmarkt
Date: 3-5 February 2008
Website: www.muenchen-tourist.de

Munich Ballet Week
The talents of the internationally recognised Bavarian State Ballet are exhibited every year during the week-long Ballet Festival alongside various international guest ensembles of high acclaim. Of long-standing tradition, the event encompasses modern and classical dance.
Venue: Nationaltheater and Prinzregententheater
Date: 12-19 April 2008
Website: www.bayerische.staatsoper.de

Munich Opera Festival
The Opera Festival is the most important event on the city's music calendar, held every summer since 1876 in one of the world's most beautiful opera houses. Enthusiasts from around the world gather to listen to the renowned Bavarian State Opera, with a programme of about 70 different performances. Two free, open-air performances are also held outside the opera house in the square.
Venue: Nationaltheater
Date: 26 June to 31 July 2008
Website: www.muenchner-opern-festspiele.de