Stuttgart's main festivals and markets such as the Stuttgart Wine Festival, the Stuttgart Beer Festival and the Stuttgart Christmas Market attract millions of visitors every year.Stuttgart Wine Festival
Stuttgart, a major wine-growing centre celebrates at the end of August/beginning of September with a wine festival lasting almost two weeks with vine-covered stands around the Old Palace. Fine wines and Swabian maultaschen ravioli with countless different fillings, rostbraten, zwiebelkuchen (bacon and onion flan) and bubenspitzle (finger-sized rolls of potato dough) transform the festival into a culinary treat.Stuttgart Beer Festival
In terms of size, the Stuttgart Beer Festival is second-only to the Oktoberfest in Munich. It takes place at the end of September every year in the area around the 24 metre high fruit column and originated in 1818 as a harvest festival following a famine. Nowadays it provides two weeks of fun with oompah bands in traditional costume inside the marquees and fairground attractions such as the Ferris wheel, loop-the-loop roller coasters and the old-fashioned chairoplane merry-go-round.Stuttgart Christmas market
The Christmas market is vast and dates back centuries. More than 200 decorated stalls crowd into the market square and Schillerplatz. Set against the backdrop of the illuminations in the city centre, Schlossplatz square and the Old and New Palaces, it is a real festive experience and is traditionally opened on the last Thursday in November with a gala concert in the courtyard of the Old Palace..