Bensberger Herbstfest with Sunday Shopping

Bensberger Herbstfest — the season draws to a close

As Schlossstraße transitions into autumn in September, the Bensberger Herbstfest concludes the festival cycle, which features three district festivals per year in Bergisch Gladbach-Bensberg: the Spring Festival (April), the Schloßstadtfest (June), and now the Herbstfest (September). The organizers are the Bensberg Trade Association (IBH) and the event service provider XDREAM-Events, who have curated this trio as a permanent fixture of the district for years.

The new Schlossstraße as a stage

Following the ceremonial reopening of the renovated Schlossstraße in spring 2026, the "Street of Encounters" will experience its first full seasonal cycle with the Herbstfest. The traffic-calmed, newly furnished pedestrian zone — a result of urban development funding from federal and state sources in NRW — offers space along its length for stalls, small stages, seating, and the festival activities.

Ice rink in September? A Bensberg specialty

One of the most surprising program items: the Bensberg Ice Sports Club sets up a small ice rink in the middle of Schlossstraße — a foretaste of the winter season and a magnet for children. In addition, the Bensberg Carnival Society offers freshly prepared potato pancakes at its own stand. The Große Bensberger KG offers baked goods. The Lions Club Bensberg draws its tombola — the proceeds go annually to child protection projects in the Rheinisch-Bergisches Kreis.

Sunday Shopping

On Sunday, September 21, 2026, the shops on Schlossstraße and in the adjacent city center will open their doors from 1 PM to 6 PM — a long-established Sunday shopping event that is part of the Herbstfest and attracts customers from the entire Rheinisch-Bergisches Kreis and eastern Cologne to Bergisch Gladbach.

IBH Vouchers with a Bonus

As with every Bensberg district festival, the Bensberg Trade Association sells its popular vouchers at its own stand: for a purchase price of 90 euros, you get 100 euros of shopping value in participating stores. This initiative strengthens local retail and is part of the IBH's strategy to keep Bensberg competitive against the large shopping centers in Cologne.

Food and Drinks

The food stalls offer the classic city festival assortment: Bratwurst, freshly prepared potato pancakes with apple sauce, regional specialties, along with Reissdorf Kölsch fresh from the tap — Bensberg's official beer, brewed in Cologne. Sweet stalls offer crêpes, almonds, and gingerbread for the emerging autumn mood.

Location and Travel

Bensberg, with around 17,000 inhabitants, is one of the largest districts of Bergisch Gladbach, the district town of the Rheinisch-Bergisches Kreis in the Cologne administrative district (North Rhine-Westphalia). Schlossstraße connects Bensberg Castle with the parish church and is the central shopping axis of the district. By KVB light rail line 1 from Cologne (terminus Bensberg), it takes about 35 minutes; by car via the A 4 motorway, exit Bensberg, it takes about 15 minutes.