Augsburger Frühjahrsplärrer

Swabia's Largest Folk Festival

The Augsburger Plärrer is one of the largest and oldest folk festivals in Bavaria. Twice a year — in spring (Easter) and late summer (August/September) — it draws up to 1.2 million visitors to the Kleine Exerzierplatz. In spring 2026, the festival runs from April 5 (Easter Sunday) to April 19. This makes it the unofficial season opener for Southern German folk festivals.

Eva Weber and the Keg Tapping

The Frühjahrsplärrer traditionally opens on Easter Sunday at 5 PM with the keg tapping ceremony by Mayor Eva Weber in the Binswanger beer tent. The image of the mayor striking the keg and the cry "O'zapft is!" (It's tapped!) are featured annually in the Swabian press — and are considered the ultimate symbol of the season's start in Augsburg.

Kleine Exerzierplatz and the Beer Tents

The venue is the Kleine Exerzierplatz, a large square in Augsburg's Pfersee district. Several large beer tents — run by Binswanger and Schaller, Augsburg's renowned beer tent hosts — can accommodate hundreds of guests. In addition, there are countless rides (roller coaster, Ferris wheel, Wilde Maus), show booths, and food and candy stands. The Plärrer is a major event both visually and acoustically — and holds emotional significance for every Augsburger.

Family Days and Grand Fireworks

Special Family Days take place on Wednesday, April 8, and Wednesday, April 15, 2026 — with reduced prices for admission and rides until 8 PM. Grand fireworks will illuminate the festival grounds on Friday, April 10, and Friday, April 17, starting at 9:45 PM each night — a classic attraction that draws families and couples.

Augsburg and the Plärrer

With around 300,000 inhabitants, Augsburg is the third-largest city in Bavaria and the capital of the Swabia administrative region. The city of the Fuggers, with its famous Town Hall, the Fuggerei, and the UNESCO World Heritage water management system, has its own distinct character within Bavaria — and the Plärrer is an expression of this independent Swabian-Bavarian identity. Unlike the Oktoberfest in Munich, the Plärrer is more family-oriented and less international — which many Augsburg residents consider an advantage.