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Bavaria On Tap
Bavaria On Tap
Events›Upper Palatinate

Regierungsbezirk

Upper Palatinate

Zoigl beer, forest lakes, and Regensburg's medieval old town — a different side of eastern Bavaria's festival calendar.

Upper BavariaLower BavariaUpper PalatinateUpper FranconiaMiddle FranconiaLower FranconiaSwabiaBeyond Bavaria

Happening Now & Next in the Upper Palatinate

In date order, straight from our calendar.

Past Upper Palatinate Events

Already wrapped for this cycle — kept here for reference.

About the Upper Palatinate

The Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz) is eastern Bavaria, with Regensburg as its regional seat. The landscape mixes low mountains, forests, ponds, and river valleys — the Danube runs through the western part of the region, the Naab through the east. Regensburg is the clearest cultural gateway, with a well-preserved medieval old town, the Stone Bridge, and Thurn und Taxis palace, but Amberg, Neumarkt, Weiden, Cham, and Schwandorf all work as separate bases into different parts of the region.

Zoigl and pond-raised carp

The Upper Palatinate has its own beer word: Zoigl, a bottom-fermented, unfiltered beer tradition tied to private and communal brewing in the northern part of the region, centered on Windischeschenbach. Zoigl is served on a rotating calendar between local pubs — a star outside a house signals the tradition, but opening dates vary house to house, so check a current local calendar rather than assuming any pub pours on a given day.

The region's pond country adds a second distinctive food: carp, especially around Tirschenreuth, traditionally on menus from October through April — blue carp, baked fillet, or smoked.

Local Volksfeste, one town at a time

May is the region's busiest month — Cham, Neumarkt, Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Teublitz, Regensburg, and Berching all run spring Volksfeste, with the Regensburg Dult stretching from May 14–31. June shifts toward old-town and riverside events: Neumarkt's Altstadtfest (five stages, roughly 100 stalls) and similar city-center festivals in Amberg and Dietfurt. The Bad Kötzting Pentecost Ride — around 700 riders in traditional dress processing 7km — is listed for May 17, 2027, a religious and cultural procession worth planning a year ahead for. Winter brings three Christmas-market choices in the inventory: Regensburg's ticketed palace-ground market at Schloss Thurn und Taxis, the free central Neupfarrplatz market, and Amberg's town-square market.

Practical planning

No authoritative, region-wide transport source was available. The Upper Palatinate is geographically broad — start with the event's city, then confirm current access, since rural and forest-area events won't share Regensburg's connections.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Upper Palatinate, and what's its regional seat?
Oberpfalz — eastern Bavaria, with Regensburg as regional seat.
What is Zoigl, and where can I try it?
An unfiltered, bottom-fermented beer tied to private and communal brewing in the northern Upper Palatinate — Windischeschenbach is its center. Check a current local calendar, since serving dates rotate by pub.
When is carp season here?
Traditionally October through April, especially around Tirschenreuth.
When is the Regensburg Dult?
May 14–31, 2026.
What is the Bad Kötzting Pentecost Ride?
A mounted procession of roughly 700 riders in traditional dress over 7km, listed for May 17, 2027 — a religious and cultural tradition, not a beer festival.
Which Regensburg Christmas markets are covered here?
A ticketed market at Schloss Thurn und Taxis, and the free central market at Neupfarrplatz.
Is the Upper Palatinate good for outdoor time between festivals?
Yes — the Upper Palatinate Forest offers hiking, forests, rivers, and lakes alongside the festival towns.

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