This coming weekend, it’s that time again, and Munich kicks off the festival season with the Spring Festival. For a full three weeks, the 60th anniversary will bring colorful fun to the Theresienwiese, where you can look forward not only to festival tents and rides but also to a varied program. Things get off to a hearty start right on the opening weekend, and the following busy first week of the Spring Festival has even more highlights in store for you, ranging from the parade to special offers and Family Day.
Grand Opening for the Anniversary
Traditionally, the little sister of the Wiesn starts on a Friday and welcomes visitors right away with a variety of program highlights. As always, things kick off with the parade onto the Theresienwiese and into the Hippodrom, where Dr. Christian Scharpf will tap the first keg at 4 p.m. Starting at 2:15 p.m., the breweries invite you to enjoy free beer at the Alte Kongresshalle on the Theresienhöhe. At 3 p.m., the parade of bands and floats begins, making its way down to the festival grounds.
On Saturday, April 18, bargain hunters among you can look forward to Bavaria’s largest flea market. There, you can browse through countless treasures and take home a new item or two. And who knows, maybe you’ll even find the perfect accessory for your traditional costume? If you really want to save money, however, you should mark Sunday morning in your calendar: To celebrate its 60th anniversary, the Spring Festival is hosting the “60 Minutes – 60 Cents” promotion, where you pay just 60 cents on all rides from 10 to 11 a.m. The other vendors will also be offering special deals during this hour.
Classic Car Meet and Family Day during the first week of the Spring Festival
After the big kickoff over the weekend, more treats await you during the first week of the Spring Festival—both literally and figuratively. Tuesday, April 21, is Family Day. From 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., you’ll receive discounts on rides as well as on some souvenirs and delicacies, such as gingerbread hearts or chocolate-covered fruit. The offer is open to everyone, not just families with children. The very next day, April 22, more bargains await you: Starting at 11 a.m., you can get two white sausages with a pretzel for €2 —while supplies last. A total of 1,000 of these white sausage breakfasts are set to be served.
On Sunday, car and retro fans will get their money’s worth at the classic car meet. The Munich Automobile Club will showcase particularly valuable models during the classic car parade at 10 a.m. , which you can then admire at the Theresienwiese. Club members will be present with their cars below the Bavaria statue until 2 p.m. In addition to sports cars, you can admire other models, such as the Opel Manta or the VW Beetle. And that concludes the program for the first week of the Spring Festival. But fortunately, we still have two more full weeks ahead of us this year, packed with great highlights.
Here is an overview of the dates for the first week of the Spring Festival:
- Friday, April 17: Parade of breweries and carnival operators starting at 3 p.m., tapping of the first keg at 4 p.m.
- Saturday, April 18: Giant flea market from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Sunday, April 19: 60 Minutes – 60 Cents from 10 to 11 a.m.
- Tuesday, April 21: Family Day from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday, April 26: AMCclassic car meet until 2 p.m.
