What's on in Freiburg, Germany through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in Germany, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Busy — Alemannic Fasnet, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Alemannic Fasnet

  12–17 FebCarnivalCrowded

  The southern German carnival is older and stranger than the Rhineland version: wooden masks, the Schmutzige Dunschdig morning wake-up call and parades through the old town lanes. Source ↗

Busy — Easter holidays in Germany, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Easter holidays

  3–6 AprEaster & Holy WeekClosuresCrowded

  Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays everywhere, and shops close on Friday, Sunday and Monday. Good Friday is a quiet day with dance and loud-event bans in most states, and Germans use the four-day weekend to travel, so trains, motorways and holiday towns are busy. Source ↗

Still on: Alemannic Fasnet (12–17 Feb)

Peak crowds — Easter holidays, Easter holidays in Germany

• Holiday

  Ascension and Whitsun

  14–25 MayNational holidayClosuresCrowded

  Ascension Day, a Thursday 39 days after Easter, and Whit Monday 11 days later are public holidays nationwide. Shops close on both, many people bridge them into long weekends, and trains, motorways and hotels in holiday areas get busy. Source ↗

Still on: Easter holidays (3–6 Apr)

Peak crowds — Ascension and Whitsun, Whitsun/Pentecost holidays in Germany

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Ascension and Whitsun (14–25 May)

Busy — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Festival

  Freiburger Weinfest

  2–7 JulFood & drink festivalCrowded

  Six days of Baden wine served in the square around the Munster in the first week of July, with the growers pouring their own. Tables go early in the evening and are not bookable. Source ↗

Still on: Ascension and Whitsun (14–25 May)

Peak crowds — Freiburger Weinfest, Zelt-Musik-Festival

• Festival

  Zelt-Musik-Festival

  15 Jul – 2 AugMusic festivalCrowded

  Three weeks of concerts under tents at the Mundenhof on the edge of the city, from circus to jazz. It runs deep into the school holidays and the last night is the first weekend of August. Source ↗

Still on: Freiburger Weinfest (2–7 Jul)

Peak crowds — Zelt-Musik-Festival, Summer holidays in Germany

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Zelt-Musik-Festival (15 Jul – 2 Aug)

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Season

  Kaiserstuhl wine harvest

  5 Sep – 15 Oct · usually

  The vineyards on the volcanic hills west of the city are picked from early September, and the Neuer Wein appears in the taverns while it is still cloudy and half-fermented.

Busy — Autumn holidays in Germany, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Nature

  Black Forest autumn

  5 Oct – 8 Nov · usuallyAutumn colour

  The beech below the Schauinsland turns first, the valley vineyards a fortnight later. The tram and the cable car put you in it without a car, which is unusual for the range.

Still on: Kaiserstuhl wine harvest (5 Sep – 15 Oct (usually))

Busy — Christmas market, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Christmas market

  19 Nov – 23 DecChristmas & New YearCrowded

  A market of about a hundred stalls through the old town lanes rather than one big square, which keeps it walkable. It shuts on the 23rd, earlier than most. Source ↗

Still on: Black Forest autumn (5 Oct – 8 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Christmas market, Christmas holidays in Germany

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Christmas market (19 Nov – 23 Dec)