The Wurstmarkt (literally: Sausage market) in the spa town of Bad Dürkheim, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany is the world's biggest wine festival with over 600,000 visitors each year. It is held annually on the second and third weekend of September. The first Wurstmarkt - under a different name - was held in the year 1417. It takes place in the middle of the town, outside the Giant Cask (Dürkheimer Riesenfass) - the largest wine barrel in the world, which also houses a restaurant.