What's on in Frankfurt

Frankfurt Christmas Market and festivals

Frankfurt celebrates all year. The Christmas market on the Römerberg is the one that pulls visitors from abroad, but the calendar also holds a three-day museum festival on the river, a funfair that goes back to the 14th century and a whole week devoted to a green herb sauce. Here are 18 festivals worth planning a trip around.

Late November to December · Most asked about

Frankfurt Christmas Market (Weihnachtsmarkt)

Frankfurt's Christmas market, called the Christkindchesmarkt in local dialect, has been documented since 1393. Today around 200 stalls fill the Römerberg, Paulsplatz, the Neue Kräme and the Liebfrauenberg from late November until a few days before Christmas.

Read the full guide ›

The Frankfurt festival calendar

Sorted through the year, from the spring funfair to the Christmas market. All of them are free to walk into.

April and late September

Dippemess (Frankfurt's traditional pottery fair and funfair)

Frankfurt's oldest and largest folk festival, held twice a year. Rides, apple wine tents and the stoneware pots that gave it its name.

Festival

Nacht der Museen (Night of the Museums)

Forty Frankfurt museums stay open after dark for one night, with concerts, performances and food in every building.

May

Grüne Soße Festival (Green Sauce Festival)

A week-long cook-off on the Roßmarkt to crown the best version of Frankfurt's seven-herb green sauce.

Late May into early June

Fressgassfest (the food street festival)

Frankfurt's food-focused street festival on the Fressgass, running since 1974 and drawing over 250,000 visitors.

The Tuesday after Pentecost

Wäldchestag (Frankfurt's unofficial national holiday)

A folk festival in the city forest, held on the Tuesday after Pentecost. Locals call it their national holiday.

Early June

Bergerstraßenfest (Berger Straße Street Festival)

The first big street festival of the Frankfurt summer, held on the Berger Straße in the Nordend district.

June

Rosen- und Lichterfest (Rose and Light Festival)

A romantic June evening festival in the Palmengarten, with more than 12,000 cut roses and illuminated grounds.

June

Schweizer Straßenfest (Schweizer Straße Street Festival)

A two-day street party in Sachsenhausen with over 50 stands, two stages and proper Frankfurt food.

Mid-June to mid-July

Höchster Schlossfest (Höchst Castle Festival)

Four weeks of concerts, theater and old-town celebration around the two castles in the Höchst district.

Late June into early July

Opernplatzfest (Opera Square Festival)

Ten days of food, wine and live music on the square in front of the Alte Oper, with lunchtime piano concerts.

July

Christopher Street Day (Frankfurt Pride)

Frankfurt's Pride weekend: a parade through downtown, a street festival and a political rally, held in July.

Early August

Mainfest (the river festival)

Frankfurt's summer festival on the riverbank, with a 500-meter fairground, boat jousting and fireworks over the Main.

August

Osthafen Festival (East Harbor Festival)

A free music and art festival in Frankfurt's working east harbor, with four stages, a beach area and the skyline behind it.

August

Apfelwein-Festival (Apple Wine Festival)

Ten days on the Roßmarkt devoted to Äbbelwoi, Frankfurt's tart apple wine, with cider makers, tastings and dialect comedy.

Late August

Museumsuferfest (Museum Embankment Festival)

Three days of art, music and open museums on both banks of the Main. One of Europe's largest cultural festivals.

August

Bernemer Kerb (the Bornheim parish fair)

A parish fair in the Bornheim district with more than 400 years of documented history and some very local rituals.

Late August into early September

Rheingauer Weinmarkt (Rheingau Wine Market)

More than 600 wines and sparkling wines from the Rheingau, poured by the winemakers themselves in the Fressgass.