Germany is known worldwide for its amazing festivals. While you have probably heard about its most famous celebration, Oktoberfest, you might not know about one of my favorite German festivals… Brezelfest! Taking place along the Rhine River, the picturesque city of Speyer hosts an annual festival celebrating pretzels. As one of Germany’s staple snacks, this festival is quite popular with locals. After attending Brezelfest, we can definitely understand the hype! Want to visit Brezelfest yourself? This guide covers everything you need to know.
Transportation
Brezelfest is easily reached by train, bus or car. If utilizing public transportation, aka bus or train, input Speyer Hbf as your final destination. Once you arrive at Speyer Hbf, the city’s train station, it is an easy 20-minute walk to the festival grounds.
If arriving by car, rest assured that the city offers ample parking. Many of the main city streets, however, are closed off to vehicles during the festival. To avoid traffic and reduce your walk time to the festivities, I recommend parking at one of the two parking garages below:
Each garage charges an affordable rate and is spacious for larger vehicles.
Pretzel Parade (Brezelfest-Umzuges)
First things first, you cannot miss the Brezelfest parade! We weren’t sure if this event would be worth the drive from Wiesbaden, but I’m so glad we decided to go. Brezelfest parade has to be one of my favorites that we’ve attended in Germany!
We loved watching the floats of exaggerated caricatures and oversized snacks pass by as the crowd cheered!
If giant floats of beer and pretzels don’t pique your interest, the performers sure will! Snapping whips fly through the air with a crack, vintage cannons boom and dance troops sashay their way through the crowded streets.
With fluttering flag performances and upbeat marching bands catching your eye, you might miss the wine and pretzel princesses zooming by.
My favorite part of the parade, however, is viewing the traditional and historical attire worn by the various participating groups.
Regardless if you’re young or old, prepared yourself to catch some candy! Our pockets were completely stuffed with goodies by the end of the parade.
Don’t let the free treats distract you for too long or when you’re least expecting it… the parade clowns will dowse you with water pistols! Keep an eye out for witches too, they come bearing fun goodies for kids.
Candy isn’t your thing? Floats also throw out popcorn bags, packets of plant seeds, coupons, toys, etc.
One thing we didn’t quite expect, however, was the…
Flying Pretzels
Flying pretzels fill the air at the Brezelfest parade! You read that right, FLYING PRETZELS.
“Are…are they throwing pretzels?!” I exclaimed when the first float started to approach. Yes, they sure are! Prepare your pretzel-catching hands because these tasty treats will be flying all over.
As if being pelted by pretzels wasn’t funny enough, we found ourselves catching other outlandish parade treats… such as giant carrots!
At the end of the parade, we had caught so many pretzels that we ran out of hands to hold things. Our solution? Put Kenny’s lederhosen to good use!
Kenny’s new pretzel decorations definitely drew the attention of locals and gave everyone a giggle. A few parade performers even asked Kenny to pose with them for pictures.
Traditional Night
Every year, Brezelfest has a traditional night called, “Nacht der Tracht,” where guests are encouraged to wear their dirndls and lederhosen to the festival.
If you choose to dawn a dirndl or lederhosen, make sure it is AUTHENTIC. This attire is traditional and a fake costume should not be worn in place of the real thing. Wearing a gaudy or cheap imitation is incredibly offensive and you will stick out like a sore thumb. Additionally, you may be turned away by vendors if you are seen as disrespectful with your attire.
How to find an authentic dirndl? I recommend visiting a local store instead of buying one online. We purchased our attire from a Bavarian vendor where each item is handmade and authentic to the region. Kenny’s lederhosen is made with wood buttons and Bavarian leather that features traditional styling. My dirndl is dotted with real porcelain buttons, a velvet top and intricate designs.
While this was pricey, I’m glad we spent the money. Locals were constantly initiating conversation with us and complimenting our attire. Many people commented how Kenny was a “True Bavarian boy” and elderly ladies gushed about how great he looked.
Tip: Traditional night is for all ages! Don’t feel nervous to wear your attire as there will be toddlers, teens, young adults and elderly guests wearing their best.
Dogs Allowed
Dogs are allowed at both the festival and the parade! If you plan to hop on any rides, however, I recommend leaving your dog at home.
Note: There are fireworks, loud cannons, confetti poppers and busy crowds at this event. Be sure your dog is comftorable around these noises and that they wear hard bottom dog shoes when it is dark (there may be broken glass on the floor).
Festival Food
The best part of festivals is always the food! If you like savory snacks, grab a sizzling skewer of steak or a spiraled BBQ potato.
If you prefer sweet snacks over savory, have yourself a fluffy ball of cotton candy or a strawberry ice cream. Are you a fan of funnel cake? Try a Rosenküchle with sugar. This tasty treat has been enjoyed for over 250 years and originates from the Lake Constance region. It is an easy, quick snack to enjoy on the go.
Is this your first German festival? You have to try a Bratwurst or two!
The most important snack on this list, however, is the…
Speyer Brezel (Speyer Pretzel)
You can’t go to Brezelfest without trying a pretzel! It wouldn’t be the full pretzel fest experience.
We opted for the giant pretzel and it was larger than our heads!
Not to your tastes? No worries. There are cheese pretzels, sweet pretzels, and much more to try!
Beer Gardens (Biergarten)
Prost! German festivals are always the best place to have a drink and Brezelfest is no exception.
Fancy a beer? Prepare yourself because the smallest option is going to be HUGE.
I thought I could go easy by ordering a glass of Riesling Wine… as you can see, that didn’t work out. Instead of a NORMAL-sized wine glass, I was given a FULL pitcher-sized glass that was bigger than my head. The price? 3 EUROS! Talk about bang for your buck.
Tip: There are different vibes to every Biergarten. Some are rowdy and full of drunken fun, but others will be quiet with booths to sit in. Don’t get yourself in trouble by being obnoxious in the wrong area. Make sure to read the room!
Live Music
There’s nothing quite like singing at the top of your lungs and dancing on a table at a German festival. Haven’t done that yet? Buckle up buttercup, you’re in for a fun festival! Grab a beer and moonwalk over to one of the live performances. Sprinkled around the festival, you can’t go wrong with any show you choose to watch.
Tip: My personal favorite area is the large Oktoberfest-style tent located near the Ferris wheel.
Carnival Rides
If you’ve never ridden carnival rides in Germany, you’re in for a treat! They’re fast, adrenaline pumping and ten times better than rides at USA fairs.
The catch? Some of these rides can be rough. The speeds are dizzying and I can almost guarantee you’ll come off at least one ride nauseous.
To purchase a ticket, each ride will have a “Kasse” stand near the front. To order, simply state “Ein bitte” for one ticket or “Zwei bitte” for two tickets. I always hold my fingers up to indicate the number of tickets as well.
After you have tickets, be aware that some rides do not have a line. It is more of a mad dash to grab a seat (which can get hectic). Once you snag a spot, have your ticket chips ready as the workers will come around to each cart and lock you in as well as take the tickets.
Tip: Many ticket stands for rides are cash only. Be sure to bring Euros.
Road Race
Want to take part of a local event? Enter Speyer’s Road Race! This is a great activity for all ages as the city offers a few different race options of varying distances.
Fireworks
On the last night of the festival, fireworks light up the sky! To catch the best view of this colorful display, head to the fairgrounds.
Tip: If you time it right, you can watch the glittering sky from the tippy top of the Ferris wheel!
Looking for more festivals around Germany? Check out these blogs:
The Ultimate Guide to Europe’s Elvis Festival
Where to Find the Best Poppy Fields in Germany
Visiting the World’s Largest Pumpkin Festival – Ludwigsburg, Germany
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