OktoberfestAt 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 center 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 revelers from all around the world. Apart from the rollicking beer halls where traditional Bavarian bands belt out their old favorites, the festival offers a host of carnival games and fun park rides, as well as stalls selling a range of German delicacies.
Date: 19 September to 4 October 2009
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: 16 February 2010
Time: 2pm to 5pm
Website: www.muenchen-tourist.de
Munich Ballet WeekThe talents of the internationally recognized 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: 3 - 10 May 2009
Time: Most performances start 7pm
Website: www.bayerische.staatsoper.de
Munich Opera FestivalThe 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 program of about 70 different performances. Two free, open-air performances are also held outside the opera house in the square.
Venue: Nationaltheater
Date: June/July 2009, TBC
Website: www.muenchner-opern-festspiele.de
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