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Spring Festivals in Prague

People in Prague are big on holidays, and there's always a major celebration city-wide during New Year's Eve, Three King's Day (6 January), Easter Monday (March or April), Labor Day (May 1) and Liberation Day (May 9).

Labor Day coincides with the Majales spring festival, which Czechs celebrated for over two centuries but was banned by the Nazis and communists. However, its celebration was revived in 1997 with as much fervor as before. On this special day, the streets are filled with bands, costumes, floats and merry-makers enjoying their beer and sausages.

Another big celebration is held on January 19, the anniversary of Jan Palach's death. It honors the student who burned himself to death protesting the Soviet occupation in 1969.

Prague’s other major festivals include the following:

Spring Festivals Prague has a host of festivals in March, April and May. The most notable of these are the Easter Market celebration in April, which features parades and stalls at Wenceslas Square as well as a giant Easter egg hunt, and Witches Night on April 30, where the locals gather around bonfires and celebrate while warding away witches.

Winter Festivals As Prague is the winter festival center of the Czech Republic, there's a lot going on in the city from November to February, including music festivals, ballroom dancing and pagan holidays. The International Festival of Advent and Christmas Music in December brings amateur adult and children's choirs together in a friendly competition that commemorates Christmas. The Prague Christmas Market in December is held at the Old Town Square and features plenty of food, drinks, souvenir stalls and live entertainment. Saint Nicholas' Eve on December 5 is filled with Christmas cheer and is highlighted by Santa's Parade through Prague. On New Year's Eve, Prague celebrates like any other European city with non-stop parties, dancing, drinking and merry-making. Finally, Ball Season in January is celebrated throughout the Czech Republic with classical ballroom dancing.