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July 27th – August 4th: Auer Dult – Jakobidult, Munich

We all know Munich’s Oktoberfest, but those truly in the know never pass up a visit to Auer Dult: a historic fairground and market that takes place at intervals throughout the year.

Since 1905, three times a year in spring, summer and autumn, the Auer Dult has offered nine days of shopping and revelling in the Bavarian capital. On Mariahilfplatz, in the South-Eastern district of Au, locals gather together in traditional costumes to wander around this historic market and enjoy the funfair.

This year, around 100,000 guests are expected to flock to Jakobidult: the summer version of the Auer Dult. Around 290 local vendors will be setting up stalls at the event alongside attractions and amusement rides.  

Children can ride bumper cars, carousel or swingboats while parents enjoy perusing antiques and handmade ornaments. Afterwards, indulge in roasted sausages in the beer garden while soaking up some family theatre. As the motto implies, there’s a reason why ‘Dult is cult’!

August 3rd: Hamburg Pride Week

This year, Hamburg Pride Week is offering a host of events, all supported by representatives of queer clubs and networks across the city. The 2024 campaign is honing in on the rise of support for the far-right in Germany and the battle against it, while also calling for new measures to boost equality for the LGBTQ+ community. 

While Hamburg’s Pride Week is scheduled for July 27th to August 4th, the CSD street festival on the Binnenalster is planned for August 2nd to 4th. The highlight of the week being, of course, the colourful and powerful CSD demo on Saturday, August 3rd.

During the festivities, readings, discussions, workshops and other events will take place in the lively St. Georg district, mostly at the Pride House. It promises to be a programme as diverse as queer life in Hamburg!

August 9th – 10th: Potsdamer Schlössernacht, Potsdam

Hopeless romantics should be sure not miss the 25th edition of the Potsdamer Schlössernacht (Night of the Castles) this August. On both evenings, the festively staged Sanssouci Park invites you to stroll through one of the most beautiful historical sites in the region and see Frederick the Great’s palaces lit up in an array of colourful lights, accompanied by music, dance and acrobatics. 

A highlight of the festival remains the stunning light display you can catch at 9:45pm and 11pm on Saturday and Sunday. The light show, with up to 100 flying LED lights hovering in the night sky above the rooftops of Sanssouci Palace, almost looks like an array of dancing fireflies. 

READ ALSO: These are Germany’s 10 most beautiful and iconic castles

As well as light displays, this anniversary edition of the Potsdamer Schlössernacht has other activities in store, such as concerts by international artists, readings in the park, variety shows, theatre, dance, guided tours and art installations. A lovely way to enjoy a warm summer night in an absolutely breathtaking setting.

August 10th : Rhine in Flames Festival, Koblenz

One of the great cities of Germany is located where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet: Koblenz. This summer, the Koblenz Summer Festival takes place during three days in August, where you can experience the renowned Rhine in Flames.

This celebration, a must-see for thousands of people, is inseparable from the Middle Rhine Valley. The Rhein in Flammen, the largest and oldest firework show in Germany, enjoys over 200 years of tradition in Koblenz, as the first show goes back to around 1750. Today, the festival remains a sensational experience. 

On August 10th, local cultural icons, such as castles on the Rhine, light up at night before an impressive firework display that spectators can enjoy from land or on ships within one of the longest boat parades in Europe. Alongside this stunning display, visitors can enjoy a varied entertainment programme and great catering from local restaurants and wine cellars – a true celebration of the region. 

August 15th – 18th: Eat Play Love Festival, Cologne 

In Cologne this time, the ever-popular Eat Play Love Festival is returning this year under the motto: “Summer, sun, lake and sound”. This year, Fühlinger See offers the perfect site for this event, which brings together sport, music, food and even a regatta. 

This lifestyle festival attracts some of the best wakeboarders in the world, who flock to the city for the competition. For the less sporty, the festival also offers a dynamic cultural programme that includes cult electronic artists. 

READ ALSO: 8 interesting festivals to check out in Germany this summer

On Friday, they’ll be joined by the guys from Team Rhythmusgymnastik, who brand themselves “the sportiest and most attractive DJ team in the world”.

On top of sports and music, great food will also be on the menu, with everything from Afro fusion street food to delectable vegan ice-cream. Families are welcome, too: the kids’ area features a bouncy castle and some fun shows for little ones.

August 22nd – 26th: Sandkerwa Bavarian Folk Festival

In Bamberg’s historic old town, there’s been a rendezvous held annually for decades: the Sandkerwa Bavarian Folk Festival, which kicked off way back in 1951. As usual the celebrations this year will take place during the last whole weekend of August in the Sand area – the oldest settlement area in Bamberg. 

The word Kerwa is the Franconian term for church fair. That’s why the consecration of St Elisabeth’s Church, one of Bamberg’s smallest churches, usually opens the festival. This is also the reason the festival takes place around the Sandstraße. 

These days, the Sandkerwa is one of the largest folk festivals in Bavaria, offering five days of celebration in the narrow streets of Bamberg amidst the romantic atmosphere of Little Venice.

Each year, over 200,000 people gather to (re)discover Franconian beer, specialities, music, dancing and traditional garb. Puppet stages, concerts and fishing competitions are also on the agenda this year, alongisde an impressive fireworks display.  

August 23rd – 25th: Museumsuferfest

If you’ve ever walked the banks of the River Main in Frankfurt at the end of the summer, you might have stumbled upon large celebrations of music and dancing, with young people mixing up with older generations.

This is the Museumsurferfest, the hugely popular festival that takes place each year in the Hessian capital. 

This art and culture event takes its name from the Museumsufer, the nickname given to the banks of the river due to the large number of museums located there. In honour of this special place, the city organises one of the largest and most spectacular culture festivals in Europe, with around one million international visitors. For the occasion, museums on the northern and southern banks of the Main keep their doors open late into the night. 

For those who love dancing, a stage programme brings together a variety of musical genres so that everyone can find something they dig. Hungry festival-goers can also find a diverse culinary offering at the event, offering tastes from around the globe in a nod to Frankfurt’s international community. 

READ ALSO: 9 of the best day trips from Frankfurt with the €49 ticket

August 23rd – September 8th: Nuremberg Folk Festival

The second largest folk festival in Bavaria, is Nuremberg Folk Festival, is renowned for being clean, safe and above all fantastic fun for families. Over a little more than two weeks, this event welcomes thousands of visitors for a special programme of historical re-enactments, beer tapping, food tasting and a wide range of games and amusements. 

“Have fun, feast, and meet friends” is the motto of this year’s edition. The Nuremberg Folk Festival also features themed celebrations, such as a ladies’ night, an international soirée, a family day, and even a superhero party for the most heroic guests.

On the culinary side, you can expect ice cream and the usual fairground confectionary, but also high-quality regional specialities.

Are you looking for an event where you can hop on adventure tours while learning about the greatest traditions of this German region? Perhaps some extraordinary fireworks to round off celebrations? If so, be sure to hop on a train to Nuremberg this August. 

August 24th: Berlin’s Long Night of Museums

This is without a doubt one of Berlin’s most exciting events of the year – especially for culture vultures. This year, the capital’s Long Night of Museums takes place from 6pm to 2am on August 24th. In total, 75 museums will open their doors throughout the evening and 750 events will take place across the vibrant city – all accessible with just a single ticket.

Every Lange Nacht der Museen is different and unique. In 2024, the common theme is “Berlin Secrets” and some museums will open their doors for the very first time.

From the C/O Berlin to the Deutsche Kinemathek or the Mitte Museum, discover some of the best museums in Berlin, split into four categories: Kunst (Art), Natur und Technik (Nature and technologies), Geschichte (History) and Kultur und Gesellschaft (Culture and society).

What secrets do paintings reveal when they are turned over or scrutinised? What mysteries of science are still unsolved? What does it mean to be forced to live your faith or sexual identity in secret? Those are some of the questions Berlin is asking you. Grab a friend and a few drinks, head on a tour of the city’s museums, and you may find the answer to some of them.

READ ALSO: 10 unmissable events taking place in Germany in 2024

August 30th – September 8th: Berlin Beer Week

We couldn’t possibly end this list of August highlights without mentioning the Berlin Beer Week.

Though it needs no introduction for beer lovers, the event can be summarised in a few numbers: more than a hundred local and international breweries, six beer cruises to enjoy tastings on the water; ten days, and more than 35 events happening across twenty locations in Berlin.

The Berlin Beer Week 2024 also features the big opening and closing parties, rousing live music, food tastings and of course, the city’s best beer. This 10th anniversary will see some exciting collaborations with cult Berlin breweries who are producing some unique beers just for the occasion. Prost!