Free Festivals 2023: Open Airs to support & join for free
Festival summer 2023 is just around the corner and with it the question of which open airs you want to go to this year. The variety of options has probably never been greater than it is today, and more and more events offer not only great musical artists but also a colourful programme of art and culture. Many of them are free of charge and are organised with the help of volunteers. But many events that are actually paid for also rely on volunteers and offer free entry in return. Would you like to work behind the scenes at a festival this summer? Then you can find selected free (and actually paid) festivals here, where you can help out in 2023 and be there for free.
We will be updating the festivals continuously throughout the summer. It’s worth checking back!
Free Festivals 2023 in Hamburg
Millerntor-Gallery #11 from 13. to 16.07.2023
About the Festival
The international art, music and culture festival Millerntor Gallery, initiated by Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli e.V. and FC Sankt Pauli, has been held at the Millerntor Stadium for 11 years. True to the motto “ART CREATES WATER”, the proceeds support the work of Viva con Agua and the participating artists. The organisers want to inspire visitors to get involved in society through the universal languages of art, music and sport.
How you can join in
The Millerntor Festival team would like to invite you to participate in their heartfelt project. More than 300 volunteers of the Millerntor Gallery Collective will set up and dismantle the stadium and organise the festival. Become an Artivisti and make the stadium a participatory, colourful, loud, thoughtful, joyful, intense and creative place. You can be there during the construction (12.06. – 12.07.2023), during the festival (13.07. – 16.07.2023) or during the dismantling (17.07.2023 – 24.07.2023).
(no German skills required)
Culture Festival altonale & STAMP Festival from 16.06. to 02.07.2023
About the Festival
It’s that time again! From 16 June to 2 July 2023, the altonale and the STAMP Festival in Altona will take place live and in colour for the 24th time. There is hardly any other cultural festival that residents can participate in as creatively as the altonale: art, music, literature, theatre, flea markets, treats and much more!
How you can join in
The festival is looking for guides at the cultural events for the 17 days of the festival. As an event guide, you will help with admission, seat allocation and artist support, and will be available to answer visitors’ questions at the info point in the middle of the festival grounds. You will experience the events from a new perspective and have the opportunity to come into direct contact with the artists.
(Basic German skills required)
Clubkinder e.V. is also looking for support for their stand at Ottenser Marktplatz (incl. wheel of fortune, people glittering, button machine, cremate yoga, balance boards, etc.). You can find more information here.
(Basic German skills required)
Wutzrock Umsonst & Draußen Festival from 11. to 13.08.2023
About the Festival
The legendary Wutzrock Festival is going into the next round and is looking for helpers! This Umsonst & Draußen festival in the south-east of Hamburg, which has been setting an exclamation mark since 1979, is fundamentally likeable to us with its values and an important beacon in the local art and culture scene. Wutzrock is colourful, loud and non-partisan, solidarity-based, non-commercial, against sexism and absolutely anti-fascist.
How you can join in
Do you want to support us in securing colourful art and culture in Hamburg and at the same time get some great music on your ears? Then there are many opportunities for you to get involved, especially in the following areas we are looking for helpers:
Stage technics: Without sound and light, the festival doesn’t go bang. Enchant people with stage fireworks! Security: So that everyone can have a fantastic time. Take care of the necessary framework! Waste prevention: Many partying people produce a lot of waste. Help us to be sustainable! Team Platz: A festival site is not created by magic, but maybe by your magic hands?
(basic German skills required)
Rock-Kids Festival on 30.09.2023
About the Festival
Rock Kids e.V. offers open children’s and youth music projects in various districts of Hamburg. They aim to give children and young people from the most diverse social and cultural backgrounds self-confidence through the medium of rock music. In addition to various music holidays, the association organises the Rock Kids Festival St. Pauli on Hamburg’s Spielbudenplatz once a year. We are still looking for active support for this (and other events).
How you can join in
Support is needed for various tasks. A trip to the copy shop, mounting new pages on a guitar, support at the gig and much more. Depending on your interests and skills, you will find suitable tasks for you. Musical skills or experience in dealing with children are not a prerequisite. And even if you only have a little time, your support is welcome!
(medium German skills required)
Free Festivals 2023 in Berlin
PxP Education & Music Festival from 17. to 18.06.2023
About the Festival
On Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June 2023, Berlin’s FEZ will become the biggest and coolest classroom in Europe. Under the motto “PxP Festival 2023 – School celebrates the future”, changemakers and thousands of people will be loud and active together for a fairer and future-oriented education system.
The festival will take place as a conference and music event on the FEZ grounds. 100 renowned speakers such as Andreas Schleicher, Verena Pausder, Bob Blume, Sami Khedira, Otto Herz and many more will share their visions of sustainable schools. There will also be workshops, makerspaces and future spaces, Future Jobs Talks, participation formats for petitions, performances and parties every evening with top music acts such as Blumengarten, Bosse, Celina Bostic, Esther Graf, Loi, Nico Suave, Teesy, Wilhelmine and many more.
How you can join in
During the preparation and the two days of the festival, there are many opportunities to contribute to a successful festival as part of the PxP team. This includes various set-up and decoration activities on the grounds, admission, assistance with the programme, support at the info counter, looking after the speakers, helping hands at stages and stands and many other tasks. Simply register for one of the days as a helper and discuss with the team which task you would like to take on.
(basic German skills required)
Community Arts Festival HofFestSpiele from 30.06. to 02.07.2023
About the Festival
The community theatre brings together seekers, learners and creators at its events and develops diverse, cross-generational and cross-cultural projects for people who want to participate. The diversity of languages, forms of expression, perspectives and experiences of its artists and audiences are the most important impulse and drive for ExMe’s dialogue-based theatre work.
For the 11th edition of the HofFestSpiele Community Arts Festival, the theatre is still looking for volunteers to support them in staging the upcoming festival at the end of June/beginning of July.
How you can join in
Are you interested, have the time and the desire to get involved in a diverse community art festival? Then you can do this in one of the following areas: entrance/exit, bar, catering, artist support, audience support, cleaning and hygiene control, technical support or as a jumper. Contact the team now for an unforgettable art festival experience.
(no German skills required)
Zug der Liebe on 26.08.2023
About the Festival
The Zug der Liebe (parade of love) started in 2015 as a community of interest made up of people interested in music, media professionals and other creative people. In 2015, they organised the first demonstration under the name “Zug der Liebe” and founded the association of the same name in 2016. This year, the street festival will take place on 26.08.2023 and the association is looking forward to your support!
How you can join in
The members of Zug der Liebe e.V. work for the association on a voluntary basis and mostly come from the club, music or culture industry. Interested people can contribute their skills, ideas and contacts to the work of the association in their free time – e.g. in promoting the demo or in the general organisation and work of the association. As a member of the association, your contribution not only ensures that the planned projects can be realised, but you also join a community of people who want to make a difference in this city.
(no German skills required)
Queer AHA-Terrace Fest on 26.08.2023
About the Festival
The AHA is a non-commercial, all-volunteer association that offers space for groups and events and a contact point for queer people. Now over 45 years old, the AHA is one of the oldest continuously active LGBTIQ+ associations in Berlin. On 26 August, the AHA Terrace Festival will take place, to which you are cordially invited as a participant and supporter.
How you can join in
You can support the queer festival with various activities: Set-up and take-down, decoration, admission, securing drink supplies and filling up fridges, collecting dishes, washing dishes, distributing flyers, taking photos, baking cakes, preparing salads, bar and counter or assisting at the grill. The shifts will probably be 2-3 hours. This will be discussed with you individually.
(advanced German skills required)
Free Festivals 2023 in Magdeburg
Glacis Open Air on 22.07.2023
About the Festival
The Musikkombinat Magdeburg e.V. organises concerts in Magdeburg, free of charge and accessible to all. The GLACIS OPEN AIR has become the largest open air in the region and aims to raise awareness for sustainability, human rights, climate and environmental protection with its extraordinary music and cultural programme. At this year’s Open Air on 22 July 2023, a total of 6 meadows will be played by 10 cultural collectives. The music on offer is very broad and covers indie, pop, hip-hop, reggae, rock and electronica. The accompanying cultural programme offers cycling, yoga, panels, readings, poetry slam, open-air cinema and much more.
How you can join in
To ensure that everything can be realised, the Musikkombinat is still looking for active support in various areas: On the set-up days (20 + 21 July) they need support for setting up pavilions, stages, lighting, signage and decoration. On festival day (22.07.) you can support one of the crews: Admissions/Guards, Awareness, Clean-Team Bar, Infopoint, Photography & Social Media. The dismantling will take place on Sunday (23.07.). You can sign up for a shift directly at vostel.de.
(no German skills required)
Free Festivals 2023 in Schwerin
Umsonst & Draußen Festival Schwerin on 03.06.2023
About the Festival
On 3 June 2023, Brot.Lose.Kunst e.V. will once again open the Kunstwasserwerk in Schwerin-Neumühle for a wonderful summer day with you! Live bands, DJs in the evening, many wonderful workshops and activities for all ages await you! Admission is free for all visitors. To make this possible, the association is looking forward to your voluntary support.
How you can join in
The association is looking for volunteers for the bar, set-up, technics & stage, admission and decoration. You don’t need to have any specific experience, anyone can help! You will be insured and provided with food and drinks during the festival.
(no German skills required)
Free Festivals 2023 in Stuttgart
Summer Festival of Cultures from 11. to 16.07.2023
About the Festival
At this year’s Summer Festival of Cultures, there will be six days of dancing, celebrating and feasting to your heart’s content from 11 to 16 July. Stars of the international world music scene will thrill visitors with rousing concerts – and all that with free admission! Culinary delicacies from all over the world and a rich cultural programme will be provided by Stuttgart’s migrant associations. There will also be a colourful market of cultures.
How you can join in
As a supporter, you can help out in a 2-4 hour shift with set-up and take-down, serving drinks, as a driver or with the raffle. You will automatically be present at the performances of first-class bands, get to know new people from different backgrounds and experience a great atmosphere. As a thank you, you will receive drink and food vouchers.
You also have the opportunity to accompany visually impaired people to the festival. You can find more information here.
(basic German skills required)
Free Festivals 2023 in Frankfurt (Main)
Christopher Street Day (CSD) from 13. to 16.07.2023
About the Festival
The CSD Frankfurt takes place from 13 to 16 July 2023 and is a joint demonstration of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, transgenders and intersexuals as well as their friends and all those who support them. Every year, the parade is an expression of joie de vivre, self-confidence and diversity in society that you should not miss!
How you can join in
Volunteers are an important source of support for the CSD in Fankfurt. If you would like to support one of the volunteer teams, you can do so in these areas: Set-up and dismantling, backstage, distributing Pride wristbands, as a demo helper or as longer-term support in the organising team.
(basic German skills required)
Your vostel.de team wishes you a fantastic festival summer!
Im interested in Stuttgart festival & Christopher day in Frankfurt on Saturday ….once i check my schedule ill get back soon….Most awaiting
Hi Imran, nice to read that want to join both events! Just check out the buttons underneath the “How you can join in” section in each event description. This will lead you straight to the respective project and the option to get directly in contact with the festival organizers. Have a great time in Stuttgart and Frankfurt!