A man with white beard is standing in a beer garden in Munich and is laughing.

Event calendar March

March: Strong beer festivals & beginning of spring

Strong beer festivals in some of the traditional taverns of the city, the Turkish Film Days and St. Patrick's Day: March in Munich has all kinds of events. And then there is the official start of spring – and with it the time for the first visit to a beer garden of the year!

Events in March 2024: Typically Munich 

 

Strong beer festival on the Nockherberg

Traditionally, strong beer is drunk in Bavaria during Lent between Ash Wednesday (14 February 2024) and Easter (Easter Sunday, 31 March 2024). So every year March gets off to a very cheerful, sociable and Munich start, as the Paulaner brewery hosts its legendary Starkbierfest, which expresses the local attitude to life and is as much a part of the city as the Oktoberfest. Together, people drink strong beer to brass music, talk a lot and have fun, simply enjoying life. Since time immemorial, the people of Munich have made a pilgrimage to the “mountain“ during Lent, more precisely to the Nockherberg in Giesing. There are several festivals in and around the city – but this one is cult and the original. Because the strong beer was invented on the Nockherberg and is called “Salvator“, by the way. The highlight of the Starkbier festival is the Salvator rehearsal with the so-called politician derblecken in the form of a Lenten sermon and a musical comedy.

Strong beer festival on the Nockherberg, 1 to 24 March 2024, Nockherberg

Strong beer festival in the Augustiner-Keller

From 22 February to 23 March 2024 the strong beer can be tasted in the Augustiner-Keller storage cellar, where beer was once stored and is drunk today. The vaults made of rough red bricks, the rustic wooden benches and, last but not least, the huge old lager barrels create a unique atmosphere. At strong beer time, the old lager cellar becomes a place of pilgrimage for all friends of the “Augustiner Maximator“, who are already eagerly awaiting the quaffable dark doppelbock from the Augustiner brewery after the winter. Strong beer festivals are also held on the ground floor of the Augustiner-Keller.

Strong beer festival in the Augustiner-Keller, 22 February to 23 March 2024, Augustiner-Keller

Top events in March 2024

 

Light show Eonarium presents: Genesis II

After the Genesis I light show was a guest in Munich last winter, the Genesis II roadshow project will be making a stop in the Bavarian capital from 12 January to 12 March 2024, using immersive image projections in the church interior of St. Markus in Maxvorstadt district. Accompanied by music, the 30-minute light and video installation sends planets, sea creatures, reptiles, insects and birds through the nave and tells the story of the creation of the world from days four to seven of Genesis.

Light show Eonarium presents: Genesis II, 12 January to 12 March 2024, St. Markus Church

St. Patrick's Day pre-party and parade 

The Munich Irish celebrate St. Patrick's Day on 17 March 2024 with a parade. Flag bearers, sports clubs, traditional costume clubs and folklore societies will start at 12 noon at Münchner Freiheit and march the 2.5 km route along Leopoldstrasse and Ludwigstrasse to Odeonsplatz. On Saturday, 16 March 2024, the St. Patrick's Day pre-party will be held from 12 noon on Odeonsplatz with food stalls and a stage with a cultural programme. On Sunday, 17 March 2024, there will also be live bands and dance performances on a second stage in front of the Reiterdenkmal in Ludwigstraße. If you want to experience even more of that Irish feeling, you can visit the Munich Irish Night at the Schlachthof on Saturday evening. 

St. Patrick's Day pre-party and parade, 16 and 17 March 2024, Leopold- and Ludwigstrasse, Odeonsplatz, Schlachthof

 

More great events in February 2024

 

Musical and poetic evening for International Women's Day

To mark International Women's Day, the Association Français du Monde is presenting a musical and poetic evening featuring female composers and musicians from three centuries who have not always found it easy to assert themselves.

Musical and poetic evening for International Women's Day, 8 March 2024, Institut Français Munich

The Waste Land in the WhiteBox

Just as relics of earlier times come to light under the pavement of an old city during excavations, T.S. Eliot's poem is a text under whose surface other layers are hidden. The performance, a production by Meta-Theater in cooperation with Werksviertel-Mitte Kunst, is in English and celebrates its Munich premiere on 21 March 2024. 

The Waste Land, 21 to 23 March 2024, WhiteBox Werksviertel-Mitte

MachArt

The MachArt creative and manufacturing market will take place on 23 and 24 March 2024 in the Alte Kongresshalle and offers a colourful mix of art, fashion, jewellery and decoration, as well as natural cosmetics, toys and stationery. The youngest visitors are also catered for with activities such as a Punch and Judy show, face painting and craft activities.

MachArt, 23 and 24 March 2024, Alte Kongresshalle

 

Concerts in March 2024

 

Free Concerts by the Kulturlieferdienst in the neighbourhoods

Free concerts in public spaces are offered by the Kulturlieferdienst in various neighbourhoods of Munich. Car traffic is diverted and temporary open-air concert halls are created. There is no entrance fee, but the artists and sound technicians depend on donations.

Concerts Kulturlieferdienst, Dates to be announced, Untergiesing-Harlaching

You can find a well curated selection on Munich - City of Music.

 

Exhibitions

 

“kontraste“ (contrasts)

In the exhibition “kontraste“, the three artists Sigrid Gercke, Elke Emmert and Barbara Sontheim present their different works. Sigrid Gercke's pictorial works focus primarily on corrosion processes, which are intensified by cracks, fractures, shallows, abysses and injuries. Elke Emmert shows painting, photography and objects. The focus is on the graphic images shown here, which are dominated by intense colours. Barbara Sontheim's figurative paintings deal with interpersonal themes, spiritual questions, love, loss and new beginnings.

kontraste, 8 to 17 March 2024, Orangerie in the Englischer Garten

 

Events for families and children 2024

 

Children's Crime Festival

What's in store for the little ones at the children's crime festival, which has its “crime scenes“ in the beautiful, winding Seidl Villa in Schwabing, in several city libraries and even in the Munich puppet theatre. What happened? Forensics, an investigation file and a detective's identity card put all crime thrillers on the right track. 

Kinder-Krimifest, 9 to 23 March 2024, Seidl-Villa and other venues

Kuckuck – Theatre festival for beginners

The “Kuckuck – Theaterfestival für Anfänge(r)“, which takes place in the Schauburg in Schwabing district, in the Münchner Stadtmuseum on Jakobsplatz and in the Elly Heuss-Knapp Protestant Family Educational Institution between Karlsplatz-Stachus and Sendlinger Tor, should be similarly exciting. Children up to five years of age experience the fascinating world of theatre with all their senses.

Kuckuck, 12 to 22 March 2023, Schauburg, Munich City Museum, Elly Heuss-Knapp Evangelical Family Educational Centre

 

Children's theatre: The unicorn Adelmar

This children's theatre play for children aged three and over in German brings drama, dance and live music to the stage of the Trudering Cultural Centre and tells the story of the unicorn Aldemar, who has seen the stories of the world and can tell them. Sebastian, Fabian and Mirijam want to listen to the magical creature and set off in search of him in the forest.

The unicorn Adelmar, 20 March 2024, Trudering Cultural Centre

 

International Trade Fairs March 2024

 

Garten München 

At “Garten München“, southern Germany's largest indoor garden fair, spring is in full bloom. You'll find lots of highlights to look at and take home and get tips on garden design, garden equipment and design, travel and literature as well as competent advice and information. It makes you want to get started right away and make your garden, balcony or terrace even more beautiful.

Garten München, 28 February to 3 March 2024, Trade Fair Center Messe München

 

Internationale Handwerksmesse

At the International Crafts Fair, the meeting place for trade visitors and end consumers, everything revolves around building, modernising and renovating. The topics of living and lifestyle, kitchens and food, crafts and design also take up a lot of space. If you want to be inspired or are looking for concrete tips and information, this is the place to be.

Internationale Handwerksmesse together with Handwerk & Design, 28 February to 3 March 2024, Trade Fair Center Messe München

What else happens in Munich in March:

 

The Munich Fish Month: Under the sign of the fins

The Isar is not only there for swimming: in fact, the city river is home to many fish such as trout, perch, pike, carp and eel. No wonder that March of all months is Munich's Fish Month. Firstly, this is when the closed season for most species ends, including brown trout and char. Secondly, the weeks before Easter are considered to be Lent, during which one renounces meat according to Catholic custom. Especially on Good Friday, the climax and conclusion of Lent, fish should therefore be put on the plate. Every reputable inn with Bavarian cuisine then has fish on the menu: for example the Bachmair Hofbräu in Leopoldstraße or the Wirtshaus zum Isartal in Brudermühlstraße. If you are looking for traditional fish dishes from Franconia, you will find them at Gasthaus Siebenbrunn at the Tierpark Hellabrunn (zoo): There you can get baked carp. A real speciality.

 

With the first sunrays: Off to the beer garden!

Just as you sit in street cafés in Paris in spring, you meet the people of Munich in the beer garden. The first cool measure in which the first rays of sunshine break, should not only be photographed, but also heralds a new attitude to life in the city. From now on summer is within reach. Since with so many beautiful beer gardens it is usually hard to decide where to start, our typology will help you find out which one is the right one. Beer garden beginners are well advised with our tips – you can usually bring your own food, but you should not necessarily order a “beer“.

 

You can find a detailed calendar of events here.

 

 

Text: München Tourismus; Photos: Christian Kasper, Dominik Morbitzer, Frank Stolle

Curious? On a beer and brewery tour you will learn everything you need to know about the famous barley juice. From a tour of the brewery at the Thomasbräu to a joint visit to the beer garden, visitors will learn all the different facets of the beer.

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One year in Munich
A young women in front of a ride a the Auer Dult in Munich.

Event calendar

May: Street festivals & backyards

Munich takes to the streets: At the Streetlife-Festival and the Hofflohmarkt the attitude towards life of the city is shown.

Munich takes to the streets: At the Streetlife-Festival and the Hofflohmarkt the attitude towards life of the city is shown.

A young man and are women are climbing up a small hill at the festival Tollwood in Munich.

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June: Tollwood & Film Festival

In June, Munich is a big stage: the Allianz Arena is the venue for the European Football Championship and the Tollwood Festival.

In June, Munich is a big stage: the Allianz Arena is the venue for the European Football Championship and the Tollwood Festival.

A woman with red long hair is standing and smiling at the Isar River in Munich on a sunny day.

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August: Open Airs & Isar

There are films and open-air concerts under the open sky. Otherwise the only thing that helps: a jump into the Isar.

There are films and open-air concerts under the open sky. Otherwise the only thing that helps: a jump into the Isar.

A woman and a man with grey hair are sitting on a bench and eating chestnuts at Hofgarten in Munich.

Event calendar

October: Kirchweihdult & München-Marathon

Stroll around Munich's traditional fair, the Auer Dult, or even jog through the Olympic Park in dirndls and lederhosen on a traditional costume run - that's what Munich has to offer in October.

Stroll around Munich's traditional fair, the Auer Dult, or even jog through the Olympic Park in dirndls and lederhosen on a traditional costume run - that's what Munich has to offer in October.

A young man and a young woman are sitting at a table in the Valentin-Karlstadt-Musäum in Munich.

Event calendar

November: Literature festival & cool concerts

The first Christmas markets open in Munich in November.

The first Christmas markets open in Munich in November. There are also literary events and great concerts.

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During the guided tour of the present-day seat of the Bavarian State Ministry of Justice, you will learn everything about the history and significance of the neo-baroque court and administrative building.

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Explore the Neue Rathaus on Marienplatz with an official tour guide. A visit of the famous law library is also included!

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Hofbräuhaus Tour

Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

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Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

Discover the most famous beer hall in the world with an official guide of the city of Munich and enjoy a fresh Mass of beer afterward!

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The city walk for everyone who wants to become acquainted with the most beautiful parts of Munich's city centre.

Wort kettle at the Spaten brewery in Munich.

Spaten Brewery Tour

Experience a brewery tour at Spaten with a look behind the scenes, interesting facts about the company history and beer tasting in the brewery tower.

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Experience a brewery tour at Spaten with a look behind the scenes, interesting facts about the company history and beer tasting in the brewery tower.

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Oktoberfest Shop

Bring a piece of Oktoberfest home: Purchase official souvenirs such as the Wiesn poster or the Oktoberfest beer stein in the official Oktoberfest shop.

Bring a piece of Oktoberfest home: Purchase official souvenirs such as the Wiesn poster or the Oktoberfest beer stein in the official Oktoberfest shop.

A woman in the exhibition "Der Blaue Reiter" in the Lenbachhaus in Munich

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