Leipzig Events and Festivals

(Leipzig, Saxony, Germany)

Many popular cultural events, festivals and concerts take place around the city of Leipzig, with the main venues including the Opernhaus Leipzig (Opera House) on Augustusplatz, and also the Gewandhaus concert hall and other centrally located venues. Many festivals and concerts in Leipzig also take place outdoors during the summer months, often next to the Völkerschlachtdenkmal War Memorial or within the beautiful Rosenthal Park.

Trade fairs are also particularly popular in the area, such as the Leipzig Book Fair in March, and also the AMITEC vehicle fair in April - attended by some 300,000 visitors. Whatever the time of year, the ultra-modern Leipzig Exhibition Centre and its five enormous halls often have plenty on offer, being located on the northern side of the city.

Leipzig National Public Holidays

• 1st January (New Year's Day)
• Late March or early April - Good Friday / Easter Sunday / Easter Monday
• 1st May (Labour Day)
• Early May - Ascension Day, 40 days after Easter
• May / June - Whit / Pentecost Sunday and Monday
• 3rd October (Day of German Unity)
• 25th December (Christmas Day)
• 26th December (Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day)

Leipzig Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Leipzig Carnival (Karneval / Fasching) - January / February, a real crowd puller held before Lent, with many parades and lots of revelry

February

• Valentine's Day (Valentinstag) - 14th February, traditionally a romantic day where people exchange cards and gifts with loved ones

March

• Leipzig Book Fair - March, this annual fair welcomes around 2,000 exhibitors from all over the world and events include readings and numerous book-related events

April

• Historical Leipzig Easter Fair - mid-April, a glimpse into the past, with market stalls, plenty of tasty local specialities and medieval dancing
• AMI and AMITEC - two trade fairs for vehicles of all descriptions, with around 500 exhibitors
• Leipzig Marathon - late April, one of the city's biggest athletic events, where the course passes many local landmarks within the central Old Town district and more southerly locations
• National Flower Festival (Bundesgartenschau - BUMA) - late April to mid-October, this major horticultural event is held every other year at the nearby Bundesgartenschau Gera und Ronneburg, incorporating concerts, theatrical productions and various exhibitions, alongside the gardens and flowers
• Fun Fair - April to May / August to September / October to November, with over 100 fast rides and colourful attractions, highlights include a huge Ferris wheels, roller coasters and side stalls, held three times a year

May

• Wave Gothic Festival - late May, held every Whitsun, offering a wide range of entertainment including markets, exhibitions and concerts
• Music Festival (Leipziger Musiktheaterfest Am Brunnen) - late May, open-air concerts, held within the Barfussgässchen area and offering a mixture of music styles and other theatrical performances

June

• Gewandhausorchester Open Air - mid-June, various concerts are hosted at central venues, including an outdoor performance by the Gewandhaus Orchestra, outside the Old Town Hall
• Leipzig City Festival (Leipziger Stadfest) - early June, a popular festival throughout Germany, this crowd puller features much revelry, including music, dance and lots of food and drink stalls
• Bach Festival - mid-June, concerts celebrating the music of Johann Sebastian Bach

July

• Leipzig Beer Exchange (Leipziger Bierbörse) - early July, a huge outdoor beer festival in the Veranstaltungsbüro Werner area, where you can sample both local and international beer, alongside live music and dancing
• Christopher Street Day / Gay Pride - mid-July, based around Augustusplatz and attracting around 5,000 gay men and lesbians, with parades, concerts, music and plenty of partying
• Saxonia International Balloon Fiesta - late July, with brightly coloured, huge hot-air balloons filling the sky around Leipzig. Other events include live music, side stands, demonstrations and also rides in the balloons themselves, where you can enjoy stunning cityscape views

August

• Water Festival (Wasserfest Leipzig) - throughout August, a popular fun event held on the waterways around Leipzig, with a range of concerts, theatrical shows and entertainment
• Honky Tonk Pub Festival - throughout August, Europe's largest pub festival, where crowds of thousands enjoy live music and steins of local brew
• Leipzig Games Convention (GC) - late August, huge computer fair and games event, attracting around 200,000 visitors

September

• Leipzig Bathtub Race (Régates de Baquet) - early September, an unusual and enjoyable selection of boat races, held at the lake located alongside the Monument of the Battle of the Nations and always attracting crowds of cheering spectators, who come to marvel at the often surprising selection of boat creations
• Central German Marathon - mid-September, a major race which takes place along the Leipzig / Halle route and dates back more than 80 years. Various other athletic events also take place at this time
• Intercultural Festival - late September, featuring a mixture of concerts, film screenings, food stalls and events, exhibitions and entertainment
• Leipzig Market Festival - late September / early October, local traders gather at this historic event, which dates back some 500 years

October

• Leipzig Jazz Festival (Leipziger Jazztage) - mid-October, an enormous international jazz event, where famous jazz musicians and singers arrive in the city to perform at venues, including the Opera House
• Lachmesse Festival (The Leipzig Laughter Fair) - mid-October, around 100 different comedy events and gigs attract international comedians and large audiences, held at various central venues
• The International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film - end October / early November, one of Germany's largest film festivals of this type, featuring films from all over the world

November

• Euro Scene - early November, an established festival of German contemporary theatre, where many shows and musical events are held all around Leipzig
• Leipzig International Chamber Music Festival - late November, classical music events take place at both Mendelssohn Hall and the Old City Hall
• Christmas Market (Leipziger Weihnachtsmarkt) - late November to December, an iconic seasonal market, where gift ideas are plentiful, together with hot food, story telling and choir concerts at the Dom (cathedral)

December

• Festive Concert (UNICEF) - mid-December, a notable charity event, featuring the highly acclaimed Gewandhaus Orchestra
• Fairytale Leipzig - mid-December, particularly appealing to children and those who are young at heart, with puppets and various performances at many of the city's main theatres
• Christmas Carol Recitals - mid-December, a seasonal crowd puller held at St. Thomas Church, where the acoustics and character of the venue make the event very special
• New Year's Eve Motet - December 31st, the place to be at the end of the year, with performances by the Thomas Boys Choir providing a classy way to see in the New Year