17 April 2015 (Friday) to 3 May 2015 (Sunday) - Fruhlingsfest / Spring Festival. The little sister of the "Oktoberfest", during Spring Festival, everything is one size smaller than the Oktoberfest but nevertheless remains a familiar atmosphere and enjoys great popularity for many years: giant flea market, classic car meeting, day of the customs and fireworks make for a successful mix of tradition, fun and inspiration. In fact this year, Munich celebrates its 51st Fruhlingsfest!
The carnival first caught my attention on 19 April (Sunday) the day that I went back to office to meet my colleague before heading to Lenbachhaus. The overwhelming number of passengers alighting at Theresienwiese sparked my curiosity. Over the next two weeks, I popped by the carnival several times to admire the various attractions and soak up the festive atmosphere! Here are various photos that I have captured over the past two weeks at the carnival.
Held at Theresienwiese, one U-bahn stop away from office
Candies for sale, its a wonder that I don't get toothache!
Popular "heart-shaped" cookies filled with sugary decorations
Noticed the partygoers were mostly dressed in their German costumes, an example
posing under the statue (i.e. Dirndl dresses for the girls and Lederhosen for the guys)
posing under the statue (i.e. Dirndl dresses for the girls and Lederhosen for the guys)
Many awesome carnival games! Such a pity that I could only watch...
Would be more fun if you guys were here to ride it with me!
Would be more fun if you guys were here to ride it with me!
Haunted house which looked spooky but fun!
Participants were made to sit in dungeon cages during the ride,
an interesting concept haha
Participants were made to sit in dungeon cages during the ride,
an interesting concept haha
Taking the merry-go-round to greater heights literally!
There were two evenings when I headed back to the carnival to watch the fireworks! The brightly lit fun fair at night showed a different side of the carnival as compared to under broad daylight!
Giant Ferris Wheel!
The game that is always featured during Korean dates!
Water games were included as well!
Of course, how can there be a carnival without football
for the country that won the recent World Cup?
for the country that won the recent World Cup?
The highlight of the Fruhlingsfest (like its noona the "Oktoberfest") has to be the beer! There were many beer halls set up. Initially I thought of venturing into one, but the throngs of crowd heading inside and the bouncers standing at the entrances changed my mind. Peering from the outside, I could see long rows of table with people on each side cheering and sloshing their beer mugs, some even singing with lots of vigour! It was indeed a cheerful albeit rowdy scene!
If beer halls are the highlight for Munchens, then fireworks are the highlight for me! I made sure to catch both firework shows on 24 April (Friday) and 30 April (Thursday), even though I had to wake early the next day to travel to another city! The shows were at 10pm and I had to make a trip specially back to Theresienwiese just to watch the fireworks, but it was totally worth it!
In fact, on Thursday 30 April it was raining and I was wondering if I should go and whether there would be the fireworks show. Was very glad that they did not cancel it and it the show continued with everyone enjoying it under their umbrellas!
24 April: Great Brilliant Fireworks Showcase
30 April: Fireworks Showcase With Musical Accompaniment
Train timings were extended specially for the Fruhlingsfest. In fact, Theresienwiese is also the location of the Oktoberfest, as evident from the wall paintings of the U-bahn indicating the beer festivals held here. Looking forward to Spring!
Theresienwiese U-bahn wall paintings
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