Munich Celebrates the 2025 Fountain Festival in the Heart of the City
Fountain Festival in the heart of Munich, the Viktualienmarkt - the living room of the city of Munich: Munich celebrates its folk singers, actors, and cabaret artists with decorated fountains, Bavarian music, and folk dancing at the Viktualienmarkt
Friday, August 1st, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM - Fountain Festival at the Viktualienmarkt - Cancelled in case of rain! Free admission (Deutsch, Français, Italiano, English)
Munich - Viktualienmarkt. Traditions count at the Viktualienmarkt: "Munich Fountain Festival at the Viktualienmarkt" - Viktualienmarkt: The celebration on August 1st, 2025, will attract half of Munich to the Old Town from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM. It's just a few steps from Marienplatz to the Bavarian capital's most famous market square. The stalls and market women have long been world-famous and a must-see for locals and tourists from all over the world. There, they'll experience "fun on every corner." Today's Friday traditionally belongs to the "living room of the city," the Viktualienmarkt. It's a festival meant to commemorate a time between 1860 and 1920, the heyday of folk singers and actors in Munich. A few years ago (2010), a new tradition called the "Fountain Festival" was established at the Viktualienmarkt, and it's proving very popular. Traditions homepage: viktualienmarkt-muenchen.de/brunnen/
 |
| Brunnenfest auf dem Viktualienmarkt, Foto: H. Waess (Pressearchiv) |
Munich's fountains commemorate so-called Munich Originals, who were given a place in the heart of the city as fountain figures:
Folk singers and comedians such as Karl Valentin, Weiß Ferdl, Liesl Karlstadt, Ida Schumacher, Elise Aulinger, and even Roider Jackl will receive specially decorated fountains this year, on the first Friday in August. Alongside festively colored fountains, musicians, artists, and actors will perform. The audience will experience plays, readings, singing, and dancing.
Munich "Culture and Tradition Discovery"
Those who would like to participate should keep the first Friday in August 2025 free if they would like to take part in a Munich "Culture and Tradition Discovery" event. A day on which the market stalls will also offer delicacies to encourage visitors to discover regional specialties.
The beer garden at the Viktualienmarkt - you can bring your own food – drinks are available from the innkeeper!
When the weather's nice, the Brunnenfest is a great opportunity to visit the most beautiful and centrally located beer garden in Munich's city center. Here, you can sit comfortably under the shady old chestnut trees, enjoy a cool drink, and relax before or after a shopping spree, which is always something special in Munich's city center, from Kaufingerstrasse through the Fünf Höfe to the gallery-lined Prannerstrasse behind the Hotel Bayerischer Hof and up to the upscale Maximilianstrasse.
 |
| Australische Wadeln auf dem Brunnenfest, Foto: A. Waess (Pressearchiv) |
Today we enjoyed the "Holunderstandl," a somewhat hidden gem (right next to "Nordsee")
We tried sea buckthorn, strawberry, and elderberry syrup. All homemade and delicious. Pour a little sea buckthorn syrup into a glass and top it up with mineral water. It tastes like beer and is a delicious thirst quencher.
 |
| Singing, celebrating and dancing takes place at the fountain festival, Foto: H. Waess (Pressearchiv) |
The Viktualienmarkt features several fountains spread throughout the market
Most of the fountains are named after singers and famous figures. Throughout the year, the fountains are decorated by market traders, with some figures holding flowers.
 |
| Maibaum auf dem Viktualienmarkt Foto: H. Waess, Pressefotoarchiv |
Elise Aulinger Fountain
In 1977, Elise Aulinger also received her own fountain at the Viktualienmarkt. She is believed to have invented the Ratschkathi (a German folk song) and, as market woman Veronika Wurzl, enriched the "Munich Air" operetta.
 |
| Die Musik spielt beim Brunnenfest, Foto: A. Waess - Pressefotoarchiv |
Weiß Ferdl Fountain
The Weiß Ferdl fountain stands directly next to the Viktualienmarkt beer garden. His widow, Bertl Weiß, first had it splashed.
 |
| Viktualienmarkt - the living room of the city of Munich - Photo: H. Waess - Pressefotoarchiv |
Roider Jackl Fountain
Jakob Roider entered Munich history as a folk singer with his Gstanzl (traditional folk songs). A forester by profession, he performed at strong beer festivals such as the Nockherberg for the Salvatoranstich (salvator tapping).
Liesl Karlstadt Fountain
Liesl Karlstadt was the pseudonym for Elisabeth Wellano, an actress and cabaret artist who formed a comedy duo with Karl Valentin.
 |
| Viktualienmarkt - dressed in 19th-century costumes, everyone celebrates in the living room of high society in the city center - Photo: H. Waess - Press Photo Archive |
Karl Valentin Fountain
The Karl Valentin Fountain has been splashing its waters for the Munich comedian and folk singer (1882-1948) since 1953. Valentin performed many plays with Liesl Karlstadt. The "Musäum" in the Isartor was established for both of them.
 |
| Ida Schuhmacher-Brunnen mit historischen Volkssängern, Pressefotoarchiv: A. Waess |
Ida Schumacher Fountain
Ida Schumacher came from Lower Bavaria and was a theater actress and comedian. Her role as Ratschkathi (a maiden with a bucket and broom) is well known. We find this fountain very close to the maypole.
 |
| 19th-century traditional costumes at the fountain festival at Viktualienmarkt - Press photo archive H. Waess |
The Potato Fountain
It's very inconspicuous and provides drinking water year-round.
 |
| The sleeping tree between the Schrannenhalle and the City Museum offers enough shade for a rest on hot days. Photo: H. Waess - Press Photo Archive |
The Honey Fountain
No, there's no honey bubbling here, but the "Honey Lady" has her "Honey House" stand nearby.
 |
| A little dance in traditional costume and the sun is shining! At the Viktualienmarkt beer garden in Munich Photo: Press photo archive H. Waess |
You can see a few impressions from the "city's living room," from the fountain festival at the Viktualienmarkt, on the tradition website:
- viktualienmarkt-muenchen.de/brunnen/
