Upcoming festivals’ origins show how history repeats itself

The well-known adage “history doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes” is just as applicable in the world of events as it is to any other walk of life. Worries over climate disruption, supply chain collapse, urban sprawl and other crises have been part of the human experience for many centuries, as evidenced in the roots of many of the festivals and events we know and love to date. As these centuries-old gatherings return for their 2026 editions, they reveal a truth for all ages: The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Cannstatter Volksfest in Stuttgart, Germany: The “Wasen,” Germany’s second-largest beer bash following Oktoberfest, returns for its 179th edition from Sept. 25 to Oct. 11. Behind the nonstop quaffing, feasting and riding on twirling contraptions lies an origin story born of global climate catastrophe and a reminder of just how vulnerable our food systems are to the whims of nature.

In April of 1815, Mount Tambora in Indonesia erupted with such violent force that it disrupted global weather patterns for the next four years. By 1816, known historically as the “Year Without a Summer,” a thick shroud of volcanic ash and sulfur dioxide had blanketed much of Europe. In Germany’s southwest Kingdom of Württemberg, snow fell in June, frosts wreaked havoc in July and incessant rain rotted what little crops remained. With traditional agricultural practices proving completely impossible to carry out, famine quickly took hold across the region.

Desperate to avert mass starvation and restore morale in the bleakest of times, King Wilhelm I and his Russian-born wife, Queen Katharina, set out to tackle the problem. One solution took the form of importing grain from Russia, whose territory had not been so hard hit by the volcanic fallout. And in 1818, the royal couple established an agricultural festival paired with various incentives. Farmers who could successfully cultivate crops even in the most dire of circumstances were awarded generous cash prizes and royal honors.

These bold recovery efforts were marked by a concrete symbol: that of the “Früchtesäule,” or Fruit Column — a towering wooden column topped with fruit that is still erected at the center of the Cannstatter Wasen grounds today. What began as a bold crisis-management strategy to incentivize food security is now one of the defining elements of life in and around Stuttgart.

Those visiting the Wasen in 2026 are in for a particular treat. The “Landwirtschaftliches Hauptfest” is a once-in-four-years exhibition focused on agriculture, forestry and the food industries. This experience akin to visiting a local county fair can be had from Sept. 27 through Oct. 4.

Herring Market in Helsinki, Finland: The Silakkamarkkinat, or Herring Market, is one of the country’s premiere culinary events. Long before it became the place to pick up staple foods and traditional crafts, the herring catch represented a high-stakes lifeline for winter survival. Just how vulnerable the fish stock was had already been shown in the Middle Ages, when overfishing led to dips in herring populations that never fully recovered.

The herring market was first established in 1743 under a royal decree by Swedish King Fredrik I. For centuries, fishermen from the remote Baltic archipelagos would take to the treacherous autumn seas to sail their small wooden boats directly into Helsinki’s harbor. In tow was a vital commodity: salted Baltic herring, the primary protein source required to survive the long, frozen Nordic winter. For these hardy folk, the market served as a critical trade hub where they would barter their catch for grain, salt, winter clothing and iron goods before the ice locked them in for the season.

Today, the event serves as a living template for hyper-local food sovereignty and sustainable coastal economies. Modern visitors stepping onto the cobblestones of the market square will find traditional fishing cutters moored along the pier, selling directly from their decks. The air is thick with the scent of woodsmoke, pickling spices and fried fish. Attendees can sample everything from classic salted and marinated herring to inventive modern flavors such as sea buckthorn or chili-infused varieties. Beyond the seafood, the market features black archipelago rye bread, hand-knit woolens and the announcement of the prestigious “Herring of the Year” awards, seamlessly bridging ancient maritime survival with contemporary culinary trends.

Fête des Vendanges de Montmartre in Paris: From Oct. 7-11, Paris’ citizens and visitors to the French capital will sip wine and feast on culinary treats from around the world in a setting boasting a killer view: Montmartre, the hill from which the Sacre Coeur Basilica overlooks the vast City of Lights. This event’s origin tale is one of fierce grassroots resistance against the concrete sprawl of urban development.

While the northern slopes of the Butte Montmartre grew grapes as far back as the 12th-century Roman era, by the mid-twentieth century, unchecked industrialization and real-estate expansion had taken their toll. In 1933, a prominent syndicate of local artists, satirists and neighborhood advocates revolted when a final, undeveloped plot at the corner of Rue des Saules and Rue Saint-Vincent was slated to become a generic apartment high-rise. To legally block the developer, they petitioned the city to re-cultivate the land, planting a tiny pocket vineyard known today as the Clos Montmartre. The first edition of this harvest festival launched in 1934 was a nod to the victory of historical preservation over urban sprawl.

Today’s visitors to the area delight upon finding this sprawling, open-air block party. At the heart of the action is the Parcours du Goût (Taste Trail), where regional winemakers and artisanal food vendors serve oysters, cheeses, salami, sausages and other gourmet treats. Guests can glimpse the highly protected municipal vineyard, whose grapes produce roughly 1,500 half-liter bottles annually. Proceeds gained by the auctioning off of these bottles support charity projects for local youth. The 2026 edition of the event embraces the theme “Le 18e donne le rythme” (The 18th sets the rhythm), filling the steep cobblestone streets with live brass bands, night neon runs, colorful parades and an eccentric, “non-marriage proposal” ceremony in which couples swear to one another they’ll never wed.