In December, Munich shimmers and slides in a race: small groups meet on the Nymphenburg Canal for curling. At the somewhat different “Pink Christmas“ Christmas market, it's all about attracting attention and a relaxed get-together.
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The classic among Munich's Christmas markets is the Christkindlmarkt around Marienplatz – the largest and most traditional in the city. Until Christmas Eve, there is Christmas music, high-quality handicrafts, mulled wine, roasted desert and roasted almonds in front of the illuminated backdrop of the town hall, the Frauendom and the church Alter Peter. And between the stalls, the huge Munich Christmas tree towers up.
Christmas market, 25 November to 24 December 2024, Marienplatz
On 8 December 2024, they will once again be out and about in the pedestrian zone: every year, “wild fellows“ such as Krampus, Perchten and Klause surprise visitors at the big show run of customs, but nobody needs to be afraid of them. The run now attracts up to 50,000 onlookers.
Krampus run, 8 December 2024, pedestrian zone/inner city
From 26 November to 31 December 2024, the Tollwood Winter Festival enchants with its colourfully illuminated tent tops on the Theresienwiese. What makes this alternative Christmas market so special are its street theatre, artistic masterpieces, concerts, a children's programme, organic food and colourful handicrafts from all over the world. Most events are free of charge. In the multimedia tent of the “World Salon“, politicians, scientists and artists appear to discuss ecological and social issues with the audience.
Tollwood Winter Festival, presumably 26 November to 31 December 2024, Theresienwiese
At the “Night of the Proms“ from 15 to 17 December 2024 in the Olympiahalle, classical music and pop sounds meet in a fascinating way. Famous musicians will sing their greatest hits from all possible genres and eras with symphony orchestras. Always with them: songs like “Music was my first love“ and “Land of hope and glory“.
Night of the Proms, 6 December to 8 December 2024, Olympiahalle
This winter, a magical light and music experience will transform from November 4, 2024 to January 5, 2025 the historic fountain courtyard of the Munich Residence into a breathtaking world of sound, light and history. The technical masterpiece with a state-of-the-art 360-degree projection, 20 powerful video projectors, LED lasers and Dolby Surround Sound will enchant the audience.
Solimans Dream, 07 November to 05 January 2025, Brunnenhof / Residenz München
... there is no way around in the Glockenbachviertel. At the idyllic Stephansplatz the Christmas market “Pink Christmas“ shows that Christmas does not always have to be traditional. Munich residents love the unusual atmosphere of pop music, a prosecco bar, travesty shows with Whitney Houston doubles, kitsch and pink plush. The fact that heterosexuals, gays and lesbians celebrate together here shows the respectful and self-evident living and letting live in the city. The proceeds will go to the AIDS relief organization and social projects in Munich, among others.
Pink Christmas, last weekend of November to 23 December 2024, Stephansplatz
“The Last Supper“ by Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most famous works of art in history. Now this painting is being presented in an immersive way for the first time. Here you can study the masterpiece, which can only be viewed for a few minutes at its original location in Milan, at your leisure and in great detail. The original measures 9.04 by 4.22 metres. In the Dampfdom at Motorworld München, visitors can experience it as a 360-degree projection in its original size. The exhibition also sheds light on Leonardo da Vinci's artistic personality, his love of the natural sciences and how these influenced his works of art.
“Leonardo da Vinci – The Last Supper – An immersive experience“, 19 December 2024 to 13 January 2025, Motorworld
For the second time, Claudia Koreck and her band invite the audience to join the artists on stage to sing Christmas carols from “Oh Tannenbaum “ to “Winter Wonderland “ and “Mele Kalikimaka “. Hannes Ringlstetter, a large orchestra and Hans Sigl, who will host the evening, will also be there.
We sing the most beautiful Christmas carols together, 23 December 2024, Olympiahalle
Once again this year, the Münchner Advent organised by the Münchner Kreis für Volksmusik, Lied und Tanz e.V. (Munich Circle for Folk Music, Song and Dance) aims to get you in the mood for the coming festive season with its contemplative and impressive performances in the Prinzregententheater. Get in the mood for the Advent season and experience alpine music in words and tunes.
Munich Advent, 7 and 8 December 2024, Prinzregententheater
The “Munich Children's Advent“ is aimed at children aged 3 and over and families. While singing together, the musical offspring can interactively get to know the customs of Advent with all their senses and experience a journey through the traditional Christmas season.
Munich Children's Advent, 8 December 2024, Prinzregententheater
The Munich Chamber Opera brings Mozart's “The Marriage of Figaro “ to the stage in a lively arrangement. The magnificent rococo building of the Cuvilliés-Theater with its ornately carved boxes provides a fitting backdrop for the chamber drama-like psychogram about the Count and Countess Almaviva, Figaro, Susanna, Marcellina & Co.
Figaro's Wedding, 27 to 30 December 2024, Cuvilliés-Theater
The Gärtnerplatztheater is holding a costume sale on the studio stage, where unique items from past productions, such as handmade fantasy costumes, historical costumes and uniforms, will be on sale. There will also be bags made from old stage banners and merchandise from the 2024/2025 season.
Costume sale, 7. Dezember 2024, Gärtnerplatztheater
This concert evening by the wind quintet of the Munich Chamber Opera and pianist Aris Alexander Blettenberg will focus on milestones from the repertoire for wind and piano, from trio to sextet. Not only will music be played, but the audience will also find out what it was like on the streets of Paris in the 1950s or what it meant to be musically stung by a tarantula.
In conversation with Vivaldi, Mozart and Rossini, 1 December 2024, Deutsches Theater
Max Herre and Joy Denalane are among the most important German musicians of our time: Denalane became famous with her soul albums, Herre as a rapper and part of the band “Freundeskreis“. The two met 25 years ago while recording the song “Mit Dir“ – and fell in love. A lot has happened since then, but they are still a couple. To mark their anniversary, they are now releasing the album with the single of the same name, “Alles Liebe“, and a matching tour of Germany!
Joy Denalane & Max Herre, 3 December 2024, TonHalle
The Akademisches Sinfonieorchester München brings Peter I. Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, Einojuhani Rautavaara's Cantus Arcticus and Ludwig v. Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 to the stage of the Herkulessaal of the Residenz for a matinée.
Winter concert, 15 December 2024, Herkulessaal Residenz
Accompanied by a six-piece band under the direction of Christian Frank, musical stars such as Annemieke van Dam and Jan Ammann sing contemplative songs and Christmas melodies. The evening will be hosted by Mark Seibert and Lukas Perman.
The great Christmas gala of musical stars, 16 December 2024, Deutsches Theater
You can find a well-curated selection of concerts on Munich - City of Music.
This is about style, about furnishing and the question: Are you still living or are you already living? The “Heim + Handwerk“ trade fair at the exhibition centre is the largest of its kind in southern Germany and is expected to attract around 100,000 visitors with a good thousand exhibitors. They will find inspiration in the fields of furniture, crafts and the latest ideas of young designers. Experts will be on hand to provide advice on topics such as “Tiny Houses“ or children's rooms that grow with their age.
Heim + Handwerk, 27 November to 1 December 2024, Munich Trade Fair Centre
The best thing is to shoot straight away! Because too much ambition harms the pleasure, say the curling players on the Nymphenburg Canal. Here at the castle, beginners are just as welcome as advanced shooters when it's cold and the stream is frozen. Friends and family then try in teams on one of the 40 lanes with sticks (available for hire!) to get as close as possible to the stave. Great fun – and an ancient Munich tradition!
You don't even need music to find the ambience impressive. The Herkulessaal in the Residenz is one of the most beautiful halls in Munich: high ceiling, massive stage, lots of stone, tapestries with Greek motifs. The furnishings are quite stately, no wonder, originally the room was used by Ludwig I as a throne room. But when music is added, the whole magic of the Hercules Hall unfolds. The acoustics in the hall are excellent. The Christmas concerts are especially popular, they are aimed at the whole family, newcomers to classical music as well as connoisseurs. The festive finale is the joint singing of Christmas carols. Until the opening of the Gasteig in 1988, the Herkulessaal was the city's most important concert hall for classical music. It offers space for about 1400 people. Because the Residence was badly damaged during the Second World War, the Herkulessaal was rebuilt in 1953 in neo-classical style. Tickets are available at München Ticket, among others.
When Christmas approaches and the nights are dark, they come out of their hiding places again: evil spirits. At least that's what people used to believe – and invented the custom of the rough nights. Every evening they would smoke out their houses and stables in the hope of driving away the ghosts. The belief in smoking out has now evaporated, and the tradition has been preserved. A special highlight of the Rauhnächte nights are the so-called Perchtenläufe, in which people dress up as demons or witches. Under horrible wooden masks and shaggy skins they then make noise through the alleys at night. In Berchtesgaden, the haunted people are known as Buttnmandl and Kramperl. On the first Advent they walk through the district of Loipl during the Buttmandel walk, on the second through Winkl; on St. Nicholas Day they do their mischief after dark in almost all communities. With the Night of the Three Kings on 6 January the time of the rough nights ends.
You can find a detailed calendar of events here.
