Festivals & events

May 10th 2012 – Aug 10st 2012: For 3 months, this beautiful river “island” north end “Museumsinsel” gets transformed into the most lively beach spot in town. Even when the number of bars & terraces upon the green river is still very few in Munich “by law”, this spot has an exceptional position on the most central one of all Isar bridges.

KULTURSTRAND: Beach, bar, free concerts, DJs, chillout. Your individual beach – it plays no role whether you’re just enjoying the peace of the park-like area, or you’re coming for small concerts and enjoying some open-air drinks: Drop your shoes in the sand > you arrived in an urban oasis! With their afternoon family programme, even kids (and their parents) are very welcome. And a perfect place to meet friends and start into nightlife: This spot is just a few hundred meters away from bar&cafe magnet “Glockenbachviertel”.

EVERY YEAR SINCE 2006: In early 2010, city council gave the green light for this project to be held in the future too. A massive campaign of Munich beach supporters via social media was formed – successfully. Finally, after months of clashes with authorities and city council (as every year…) – the local urbanism group “Urbanauten” got the official “GO” for the future of beach project “Kulturstrand” , after 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009. When beach bars along the river or in the centre are “normality” in metropoles as Berlin or Hamburg – Munich is slowly but clearly catching up…

Joining this Munich tradition requires waking up early – very early. Well before dawn break people slowly trickle towards the English Garden’s Chinese Tower to grab a table and join in the revelry. Arriving later than 05:00 means finding a place to sit, even on the ground, is rather difficult, even though the beer doesn’t start flowing until 06:00. Yes, that’s in the morning.

This event is most definitely worth sacrificing a night of sleep for and a great excuse to join people ages to enjoy ‘feiern wie die Bayern’ (partying like the Bavarians).

What was once the annual Cooks Ball, for the help and servants, has grown into an excuse to dress in dirndls and lederhosen and celebrate at the wee hours of the morning. Roughly 15,000 people are in attendance, including Munich’s Mayor. Some gather to enjoy breakfast, beers, and dancing, while others go for the sheer spectacle – and believe me there are some elaborate characters in amazing costumes.

Everything is typically over in just a few hours, since that is when the workers would return to their less exciting jobs.

The event is held the third Sunday of July (this year, on the 15th) and in the case of inclement weather the Kocherlball will be held the following Sunday. 

Three times a year (during May, July, and typically October) the Au neighborhood celebrates with this traditional market at the foot of the Mariahilf church. The name changes according to the time of year: May – Maidult, July – Jakobidult, October – Kirchweihdult, however the name Auer Dult (meadow festival) encompasses them all.

The first year I went I’ll admit I was rather disappointed. Every woman I knew talked it up and would mention the lovely antiques. I was instead distracted by the feeling that I was at a glorified fair with rides for the kids, German carney foods, and people selling everything from ‘As seen on TV’ products to women’s underwear. No one mentioned those aspects.

Once you accept there are some bizarre things for sale you also realize they overshadow the wonderful array of ceramics, antique maps, unique books, and kitchen goods that really make the Auer Dult special. It’s even fun peruse for the most obscure things being sold.

Each of the Dults lasts for 9 days, so if you are lucky enough to be in Munich during one it’s an interesting look into a long standing city tradition in a quiet neighborhood setting – or perhaps a great place to pick up some dental tools, depending on who you ask.

The Jakobi-Dult will be held 28 July – 5 August.