Events and festivals in Germany: Weimar's onion market crowns its queen, Einbeck's Eulenfest marks its 50th anniversary and the Lukasmarkt opens in Mayen. Plus the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Festival of Lights and marathons.
From the market square to the Frauenplan. Weimar's onion market has its main market days on October 10 and 11, 2026. Among the events and festivals in Germany this weekend, Weimar crowns its onion market queen, Einbeck celebrates the Eulenfest's 50th anniversary and the Lukasmarkt opens in Mayen.
The onion market in Weimar
First recorded in 1653 as the "Viehe- und Zippelmarckt", the Weimar onion market reaches its 373rd edition in 2026. Onion growers from the Goldene Aue around Heldrungen and Sömmerda travel to Weimar for it, and the trading market has become Thuringia's biggest folk festival.
The emblem is the onion braid, plaited from up to several kilograms of onions and decorated with strawflowers, sage, lavender and rosemary. About 60 families from Heldrungen sell around 200 tonnes of onions a year at the market.
Some 250,000 visitors pour into the classic city over three days.
The market covers roughly 20,000 square metres between Marktplatz, Theaterplatz, Schillerstrasse, Frauenplan and Wielandplatz, and Goethe's house stands right beside the grounds. Folk music, brass bands, a big band and pop cover bands alternate on several stages, while the children's rides stand on the edge of town.
On Saturday morning the Stadtlauf zum Zwiebelmarkt starts, with some 2,000 runners on an 11-kilometre course through the centre. On Sunday the new onion market queen is crowned, an ambassador of the city and the market farmers for a year. The shops in the centre open on October 11 from noon to 6 pm.
Markets, fairs and runs from Mayen to Berlin
In Mayen the Lukasmarkt opens on Saturday with a barrel tapping at the Old Town Hall and a parade through the centre. It has been rooted in the town since 1405, rides and beer tents fill the centre until October 18, and a livestock and crafts market runs daily on the Bäckerstrasse. In Einbeck the Eulenfest, launched in 1977, marks its 50th anniversary with four stages and more than 200 market stalls. Bock beer from the Einbeck brewery is on tap. On Sunday a schlager star traditionally performs, and the shops open from 1 to 6 pm. In Fellbach the 77th Fellbacher Herbst runs until October 12. On Saturday more than 100 groups parade through the town centre from 2 pm, and on Sunday a fireworks display set to music goes up from the roof of the Schwabenlandhalle.
The 77th Frankfurt Book Fair opens to the general public on Saturday and Sunday, the guest of honour is the Czech Republic, and the programme includes readings, author appearances, a comic festival and audiobook stages; the fair closes at 5:30 pm on Sunday. In Berlin the Festival of Lights runs in its 22nd edition until October 18. Around 80 landmarks, squares and buildings serve as a screen, among them the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Cathedral. Admission is free.
The MARATHON MÜNCHEN by Brooks starts on Sunday at 9 am in the Olympiapark, and the course leads through the Englischer Garten, along the Isar's high bank and through the city centre. In 2026 the Bavarian marathon championships are part of the race, and the children's races take place on Saturday. Around the Baldeneysee the Westenergie Marathon in Essen is run for the 64th time on Sunday. Since 1963 it has been Germany's oldest marathon.