Bezirksfest Nord Gelsenkirchen

Five Districts, Five Allotment Garden Festivals

Gelsenkirchen has a special festival format: the five district festivals, one for each city district (North, East, South, West, Central), each hosted in an allotment garden complex within the district. This is how the city celebrates what is as deeply ingrained in the Ruhr area's culture as almost anywhere else: the Schrebergarten (allotment garden) culture. In 2026, the Bezirksfest Nord will be held at the KGV Schachtanlage Scholven in Gelsenkirchen-Scholven, in the northernmost part of the city.

June 20-21, 2026 — The Dates

The 2026 edition will take place on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Sunday, June 21, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Schachtanlage Scholven allotment garden complex, Mehringstraße 16, 45896 Gelsenkirchen. The address is in the heart of the former mining region—on the grounds of a former mine shaft, now housing allotment gardens.

Focus 2026 — IGA 2027

The thematic focus program for 2026 is the International Garden Exhibition IGA 2027, which will take place in the Ruhr area (with exhibition sites in Duisburg, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, and other cities). The Bezirksfest Nord uses its location in an allotment garden complex to prepare for the 2027 Garden Exhibition:

• IGA project team presentations with information on the program, locations, and participation opportunities
• Forest school and nature education for children—hands-on activities about plants, insects, biodiversity
• Energy advice—free consultation on energy efficiency in your own garden and household
• City tourism information showcasing Gelsenkirchen's attractions

District Festival with Community Life

In addition, the Bezirksfest remains a classic Volksfest (popular festival):

• Local clubs and associations present themselves at stands—sports, culture, social services, Karneval (Carnival)
• Dance groups from Gelsenkirchen clubs perform on stage
• DJ sets with pop, Schlager (popular German music), and Karneval music
• Food and drink stands run by the clubs—bratwurst, steaks, fries, beer, cocktails
• Children's program with game stations, a carousel, face painting

Participation is Possible

Local organizations from the district can register—as exhibitors, clubs, food vendors, or for stage performances. Registration via [email protected]. The open format is part of Gelsenkirchen's deliberate citizen participation strategy.

Gelsenkirchen-Scholven — The Northernmost District

Scholven is the northwesternmost district of Gelsenkirchen, characterized by mining (former Scholven mine shaft) and chemical industry (BP refinery). With structural change, allotment gardens and residential areas are what define Scholven today. The KGV Schachtanlage Scholven is one of the larger complexes in the city.

Gelsenkirchen — City of Stadiums and IGA 2027

Gelsenkirchen (around 261,000 inhabitants) is one of the most traditional cities in the Ruhr area—known for the VELTINS Arena (Schalke 04), the Zoom Erlebniswelt (zoo), and from 2027 onwards, as one of the main locations for the IGA. The district festivals carry the city through the year—one district after another, one allotment garden festival after another.