The Augsburg Peace Festival, known as Augsburger Hohes Friedenfest, is observed in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany, every August 8. This festival commemorates the implementation of the 1648 Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years' War and restored religious freedom to Augsburg Protestants, a right initially granted by the 1555 Peace of Augsburg. First celebrated on August 8, 1650, the date marks the beginning of oppression against Augsburg Protestants in 1629. The festival is a legal holiday in Augsburg, making it the only city in Germany with its own public holiday, during which government offices, banks, and most businesses are closed. Since 1984, a special Church service involving all Christian denominations is held to honor the occasion. Additionally, the Augsburg Peace Prize is awarded every three years to individuals who have significantly contributed to peaceful coexistence among different religions and cultures.