Does anybody know if they have anything similar to a county fair in Germany?

Question

I am just recently stationed here (USAF) and was wondering if they have them because I really like a good county fair!

Answer 1

Oh, man, they have some good ones. With career travelers (carnies) and extended families (gypsies and non-gypsies alike). They are called “KIRMES” and the biggest Kirmes on the Rhine is in Dusseldorf in May/June. Simply awesome and filled with old-fashioned fun houses and rollercoasters. In the East they get even more vintage and nostalgiac. I love them. The one on Berlin’s Alexanderplatz in December is hilarious – seriously old-fashioned.

So anyway, look for posters that advertise a “Kirmes” coming to town. Knock yourself out!

Answer 2

Oktoberfest

Answer 3

Hope your language skills are good because every town, city, municipality, etc in Germany seems to have its own website, which invariably has a calendar on it detailing local Fests.  Try to find something called a Veranstaltungskalender for the town... that's the local calendar of cultural, musical, art, etc events including festivals.

I don't know how close they would come to "county fairs" but it's worth a shot.  Especially since German festivals are at times accompanied by German beer, which generally rules.

Answer 4

Most cities and towns in Germany will have a festival at some time during the year.  Check with your base rec center, they usually have info about them, or if there is a German/American club at your base they will know.

They are not exactly the same as American county fairs, but you will get good food, beer, music, and sometimes carnival rides.  Some towns also have festivals around Christmas called "weinachtsmarkt" or around February called "fasching", which is like a German Mardi Gras.

Answer 5

They have fests all over the place in Germany and at all times of the year.

The German/American fest is happening in Wuerzburg this week. It is small and on post, but has great German food and some rides. It will be the last one, since the troops are pulling out.

Also, the Killiani Fest will be in Wuerzburg this summer (June or July I think). It is the closest to a county fair that I have seen.