Bike'n'BBQ Erkelenz

Erkelenz — Spring City in the Rhineland Region

Erkelenz is a medium-sized town in the Heinsberg district, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with around 45,000 inhabitants. The city is located between Aachen and Mönchengladbach, in the western Rhineland, shaped by structural change following lignite mining. In recent years, the city marketing department has launched a new series of events focusing on Erkelenz city centre — Bike'n'BBQ is one of the youngest and fastest-growing formats.

Concept: Bicycle Culture Meets Grilling Art

Bike'n'BBQ combines two central spring themes: the bicycle as a symbol of the outdoor season and barbecue as the epitome of convivial spring and summer evenings. The market square and the adjacent pedestrian zone will become car-free zones for this purpose, with exhibitors setting up stalls around the themes of cycling, outdoor, and grilling — from bicycle dealers and cargo bike test rides to pellet smokers and charcoal experts.

2026 Programme — Saturday and Sunday

Saturday, May 2, 2026

• 4:00 PM: Opening of Bike'n'BBQ at Erkelenz Market Square
• 5:00 PM: Performance by the 1LIVE Sektor Bus — the live DJ bus from WDR youth radio 1LIVE will roll onto the market square with its sound system and stage, creating a party atmosphere. A popular format of the station at city festivals in NRW.
• Evening: Open grill stations, food stalls, and sales stands

Sunday, May 3, 2026

• 12:00 PM: Start of Sunday programme
• 1:00 PM: Start of the Sunday shopping event with live music from the cover band The Streetles (Beatles cover band)
• 6:00 PM: Market closes
• All day: Sales stands, barbecue specialities, bicycle exhibitors

Stalls, Live Music, and Grill Highlights

„Many sales stands, top-class live music, and delicious grilled food" — this is how the city marketing department describes the character of Bike'n'BBQ. Live acts and DJ sets alternate on the market stage, and the grill stations range from classic bratwurst to pulled pork, gourmet burgers, and vegetarian alternatives. The cycling section features e-bikes, cargo bikes, mountain bikes, and gravel bikes — from many dealers in Erkelenz and the Heinsberg district.

1LIVE Sektor Bus — The WDR Brand

The 1LIVE Sektor Bus is a mobile promotion bus from the WDR youth radio station 1LIVE, equipped with a DJ booth, lighting system, and PA. Its visit is regularly a sought-after programme highlight at city festivals in NRW, as the 1LIVE DJs bring supra-regional recognition and the event is featured on the station's channels. The DJs will be performing at Erkelenz Market Square from 5 PM on Saturday.

The Streetles — Beatles Covers from the Region

On Sunday from 1 PM, the cover band The Streetles will take over the market stage — a regional Beatles cover band with a repertoire ranging from „Let It Be" and „Hey Jude" to later solo McCartney songs. Family-friendly and perfect for the atmosphere of the Sunday shopping event.

Sunday Shopping

On Sunday from 1 PM to 6 PM, Erkelenz retailers will participate in the Sunday shopping event — fashion stores, bookshops, cafés, and toy shops in the pedestrian zone. The combination of a bike fair, barbecue enjoyment, and shopping makes the weekend attractive for families from the Heinsberg district.

Tour with the ADFC

Traditionally, the ADFC Kreisverband Heinsberg (Heinsberg District Association of the German Cyclists' Club) offers a guided bicycle tour on Sunday — meeting point at the market square, route length depending on the year, 25 to 40 km through the Rhineland region. (Confirmation for 2026 will be provided by the ADFC in due course.)

Getting to Erkelenz

By train: Erkelenz station (RE line Aachen–Mönchengladbach–Düsseldorf), about a 5-minute walk to the market square from the station. By car: A 46 (exit Erkelenz-Süd) — parking available in the car parks at the station and Burgring, limited during event times. Naturally: Arriving by bicycle is the first choice at Bike'n'BBQ, with bicycle parking available at the market square.