Top 10 Annual Events in Český Krumlov

more than a year ago

If we haven’t laboured the point enough, Český Krumlov is a small town that packs quite the punch. They know how to celebrate around here, and the annual calendar is packed full of festivals both contemporary and traditional that bring the best out of the Krumlovians, a name we literally just made up. These are some of our favourite events, in no particular order.

Christmas

We’re going to start at the end of the year, partly because we love Christmas and partly because there are few more magical places in which to spend it. Český Krumlov and Christmas go together like magnet and steel, like beer and pork, like lemon and lime, like etc etc etc. The traditional Christmas market in Krumlov is a thing to behold.

Wine Festival (Oct/Nov)

Do we love Christmas more than we love wine? That is a tough question, and one we aren’t prepared to answer. What we do know is that Krumlov hosts a wine festival that lasts from the end of October until the end of November, and it is a whole heap of fun, no matter how much wine you’ve imbibed.

Magical Krumlov (Apr/May)

Spring is a stunning time to visit Český Krumlov, especially if you happen to be around for Magical Krumlov. The fantastical is embraced during this celebration, with the wonder of witches allied to toothsome street food and no small amount of booze, by which we mean a large amount of booze.

Five-Petalled Rose Festival (June)

Arguably the biggest event on the Krumlov calendar, the Five-Petalled Rose Festival has been taking place here since way back in the Austro-Hungarian times. The spirit of the Renaissance is alive and well at this festival, with the fun of the medieval fair revived with food, jousting, music, dancing and more.

Festival of Baroque Arts (Sep)

Baroque arts are the best, so we’re all about this marvellous autumn celebration. The Festival of Baroque Arts is exactly what that suggests — a festival of Baroque arts. Music is the main event, as it should be.

St Wenceslas Celebrations (Sep)

Usually held towards the end of September, the annual St Wenceslas Celebrations are a nationwide festival held in honour of the man himself, who was assassinated on September 28 back in 935after being set up by his brother. The celebrations are a lot cheerier than that suggests.

River Marathon (Oct)

Wait, where are you going? No, you don’t need to run a marathon in the river. This is a canoe and kayak race for the pros, although there is also plenty of fun for all the family going on at the same time.

International Music Festival (Jul/Aug)

An integral part of the Krumlov calendar since 1981, the International Music Festival brings together a wide range of musical genres from all across the world into one great schedule, in some truly stunning settings.

Rallye Český Krumlov (May)

Fast cars, plenty of dirt, corners that look like they shouldn’t be taken and an absolute truckload of beer (not for the drivers). Rallye Český Krumlov is one of the absolute highlights of the Krumlov year.

Celebrations of the Liberation (May)

An annual celebration in town, this commemorates the arrival of American troops into Český Krumlov at the end of World War II. 2020 will mark the 75th anniversary of the event, which is a pretty big deal.

Český Krumlov