October is a great time to take in film festivals in Germany. There are two in Hamburg - the Hamburg Filmfest which premiers over 130 films from a wide variety of genres and The Hamburg Lesbian-Gay Film Festival which premiers some of the hottest new films from the lesbian and gay communities. Cologne hosts the Feminale, the largest female film festival in the world for a week. Leipzig brings in people from all over the world for its world-renowned Documentary and Animated Films Festival. You can choose from over 1,000 films and a myriad of events at these film festivals which all draw huge international talent and audiences.
If you are a fan of humor and understand German, you can get your laughs in at the Leipzig Laughter Festival (Lachmesse)or at the Cologne International Comedy Festival. Jazz enthusiasts can spend a weekend at the Frankfurt Jazz Festival or visit the Leipzig Jazz Days.
Learn about Germany's Film Festivals, Music Festival and Comedy Festivals.
Top cities to visit in October include :
- Berlin- for the Berlin Festival of Lights and German Unity Day
- Hamburg - for the Hamburg Film Festival and the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
- Leipzig - for the Leipzig Laughter Festival, the Leipzig Jazz Festival and the Leipzig International Documentary and Animated Film Festival
- Frankfurt - for the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Frankfurt Jazz Festival
German Unity Day
Berlin, Germany3 October 2007
Celebrating the reunification of East and West Germany, Berlin holds a giant street party at the Reichstag consisting of live acts from musicians (classical and pop) and cabaret performers. The next day, the party kicks off again in the morning at the Brandenburg Gate, with a similar blend of high arts and popular culture.
Art Forum Berlin
Berlin, Germany29 September - 3 October 2007
Art Forum Berlin plays host to a multitude of international galleries, publishers and special project booths at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds with all forms of art and film media.
Weimar Onion Festival
Weimar, Germany12-14 October 2007
Established in 1653, Weimar's Zwiebelmarkt, or onion market is a festival that draws about 300,000 people each year. It is the biggest public festival in Thuringia and you can also get in a lot of sightseeing around the historic city of Weimar.
Fellbach Fall Wine Fair
Fellbach, Germany12-15 October 2007
Fellbach, a vineyard-filled suburb of Stuttgart hosts a lovely fall wine festival where you can taste the latest wines and enjoy some great food and music.
Bräunlingen Kilbig
Bräuningen, Germany19-22 October 2007
The lovely town of Bräunlingen, in the Black Forest,welcomes autumn with the Kilbig, held for the 649th time in 2007. This giant folk festival draws the crowds with a funfair, farmer's market, 1000-strong costumed parade and a beer barrel-rolling competition.
Berlin Festival of Lights
Berlin, Germany16-28 October 2007
Berlin illuminates all its monuments and most of its major buildings and has a week of fantastic light shows, fireworks, parties and events. This is probably one of the most beautiful times to visit Berlin. If you are so inclined, you can plan a midnight wedding under the lights - very romantic!
Frankfurt Book Fair
Frankfurt, Germany10-14 October 2007
Perhaps one of the biggest book fairs in the world, the Frankfurt Book Fair is a must for literature lovers, aspiring authors, publishers and agents.
The Kirchweih Dult
Munich, Germany20-28 October 2007
Three times a year Munich hosts the Dult, a paradise for junk lovers, and antique lovers. It's great fun - there is a general carnival atmosphere and you can often find some fantastic buys.
Bremen Freimarkt
Bremen, Germany19 October -4 November 2007
Bremen throws a two week folk festival, complete with tents, rides, plenty of food, beer, wine and entertainment in the Burgerpark and Marktplatz in the heart of Bremen.