This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our small business.
Weimar’s calendar is built around two traditions: classical music and a centuries-old folk market. The city hosts the Kunstfest Weimar each August, the Thuringia Bach Weeks around Easter, and the Zwiebelmarkt (Onion Market) every October, which is one of Germany’s oldest fairs. Most Weimar events and festivals take place in the compact old town, centred on the Marktplatz and Theaterplatz. Dates shift slightly each year, so confirm before you book. This calendar pairs with our Weimar city guide.
Weimar Events and Festivals: Spring (March to May)
Thuringia Bach Weeks
The Thuringer Bachwochen runs for about three weeks around Easter, usually from late March to mid-April, with concerts of Johann Sebastian Bach’s music in churches and halls across Thuringia, including several in Weimar. Bach was organist at the Weimar court from 1708 to 1717. Tickets for individual concerts typically cost 15-45 EUR. Book early, since the best church venues seat only a few hundred people. Early spring can be chilly, so check the Weimar weather by month guide before choosing your dates.
Weimar Easter Market
A small Easter market fills the Marktplatz for the weekend before Easter with seasonal crafts, flowers and regional food. It is much smaller than the Christmas market and runs about four days. Entry is free, and it pairs well with a spring visit to Park an der Ilm, which is at its greenest.
Weimar Events and Festivals: Summer (June to August)
Kunstfest Weimar (Weimar Arts Festival)
Kunstfest Weimar is the city’s flagship arts festival, running roughly three weeks from late August into early or mid-September. It stages theatre, dance, music and installation art across venues including the National Theatre, the old town and the Bauhaus Museum. It often marks the anniversary of the Bauhaus’s founding in 1919. Individual tickets run from about 15 EUR up to 60 EUR for headline performances, and hotels fill well in advance. This is the single busiest cultural event of the year, so factor it into the best time to visit Weimar decision.
Yiddish Summer Weimar
Yiddish Summer Weimar is a month-long festival of Yiddish music and culture running through July and August, built around workshops and concerts in the old town and across the districts described in our Weimar neighborhoods guide. Many of the open-air concerts are free or low-cost. It is one of the largest events of its kind in Europe and draws an international audience of musicians and students.
Weimar Master Classes
The Weimar Master Classes, linked to the Franz Liszt University of Music, run through July and early August. They bring advanced music students to the city for public masterclasses and final concerts, many of them free or under 10 EUR. The schedule is published in late spring each year.
Weimar Events and Festivals: Autumn (September to November)
Zwiebelmarkt (Onion Market)
The Zwiebelmarkt is Weimar’s most famous event, held every year on the second weekend of October (Friday to Sunday). Around 350,000 visitors crowd the Marktplatz and surrounding streets to buy braided onion garlands, Thuringian bratwurst and local crafts. The fair dates back to 1653, making it one of Germany’s oldest folk festivals. Admission is free, but hotel prices roughly double for the weekend, so book months ahead or stay outside town. The where to stay in Weimar guide lists the areas closest to the action.
Weimar Events and Festivals: Winter (December to February)
Weimar Christmas Market
The Weimarer Weihnachtsmarkt runs from the last week of November until 23 December on the Marktplatz and Theaterplatz. Around 60 stalls sell mulled wine (Gluehwein, about 4 EUR a cup with a 2 EUR mug deposit), Thuringian grilled sausage and wooden crafts. Opening hours are roughly 11:00 to 21:00 daily. It is smaller and less crowded than the big markets in Erfurt or Dresden, which suits travellers who want atmosphere without the crush. See the Weimar travel tips page for what to pack for a winter visit.
New Year and Winter Concerts
The National Theatre and Staatskapelle Weimar put on New Year and Epiphany concerts in late December and early January, typically 20-50 EUR per ticket. The city is quiet in January and February after the market closes, which makes it a good low-cost window. For year-round sightseeing that pairs with these events, see the things to do in Weimar guide.
