Harvest festivals in Europe for families

Harvest festivals in Europe are a delicious way to spend autumn with kids: parades, fairground rides, giant pumpkins and lots of food to taste. From mid-September to late October, towns celebrate grapes, apples, chestnuts and cattle coming down from the mountains. Here are ten festivals and traditions that work well for families, plus tips for calm meals out.

Why kid-friendly matters at harvest festivals

Harvest festivals are busy and loud, so choosing family-friendly days, areas and restaurants makes the difference between a great memory and a stressful day. Many festivals have a calm daytime side with parades and children's rides and a crowded evening side for adults. Knowing when to go is the key.

What makes a festival family-friendly

A good family festival has a daytime programme, rides or activities for children, toilets with baby change and simple food.

• Family days or hours: some festivals offer reduced prices for families on certain days.
• Play areas: rides, carousels, hay bales or craft workshops.
• Kids' menus: half portions, pretzels, soup, pancakes and juice.
• Baby change and high chairs: easier in restaurants just outside the festival area.
• Quiet corners: parks or squares nearby for a break from the noise.

10 harvest festival picks by city

Germany has the biggest folk festivals, Switzerland and France the prettiest grape festivals and Italy the tastiest food fairs. Check dates, opening hours and prices on the official websites before you go.

Price for entry per person: free, budget = under about €15, mid-range = about €15–30, premium = over €30. Food and rides are extra; approximate, prices change.

See family events in Munich on the Kid.ooo map

Germany

The Oktoberfest in Munich runs from 21 September to 6 October 2024. During the day it is a giant fairground with carousels, a family area and the opening parade of costumes and horses. In Stuttgart, the Cannstatter Volksfest is Germany's second-largest folk festival, with a tall fruit column as its symbol. In Ludwigsburg, the Kürbisausstellung in the palace gardens shows giant pumpkins and sculptures, and kids love the pumpkin weighing.

Switzerland and France

The Fête des Vendanges de Neuchâtel celebrates the grape harvest with a huge flower parade on Sunday and a children's parade. In Paris, the Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre brings a street parade and food stalls to the hill around Sacré-Cœur.

Italy and Austria

In South Tyrol, Merano holds its grape festival in October with decorated floats and folk music. In Piedmont, the Fiera del Tartufo Bianco d'Alba is a food lovers' fair, with stalls where kids can try local cheese, hazelnut sweets and breadsticks. In the Alpbachtal in Tyrol, the cattle come down from the mountain pastures decorated with flowers and bells, a lovely sight for children.

Seasonal treats this month

September and October are the months for fresh grape juice, roasted chestnuts, apple strudel, pumpkin soup and plum cake. In Germany, look for fresh pretzels and gingerbread hearts at the folk festivals. In Italy, chestnuts and hazelnut treats are everywhere. Let kids help pick apples or pumpkins at a farm if you can.

If your children enjoy pumpkins, our Halloween in Europe guide has more ideas for October. For sweets all year round, read our gelato, churros and crêpes guide.

Tips for a calm meal out with kids

Eat before the festival gets busy, and choose a restaurant a few streets away from the crowds.

• Have lunch around noon, when tables are still free.
• Ask for a table near the exit or on a terrace.
• Bring crayons or a small game.
• Share a big plate and order a simple dish for the kids.
• Plan a playground stop after the meal.

Find kid-friendly restaurants near the festivals on the Kid.ooo map. If you are heading to the mountains for the cattle drives, see our Alpine summer with kids guide too.

For family travel stories from around the world, take a look at @fouraroundtheworld on Instagram.

Rate your favourite festival restaurant in Kid.ooo

Kid.ooo is a free family-friendly restaurants map where parents share and rate restaurants, cafés and playgrounds across Europe. Before a festival day, look up kid-friendly cafés near me and save a quiet place for lunch.

Find family-friendly restaurants on the Kid.ooo map

Missing a place you loved? Add it to Kid.ooo and rate it, so the next family finds a calm table at harvest time.