Brakel City Festival & Spring Fair

Three Days of Festival Program in Brakel City Center

The Brakel City Festival is one of the most traditional city festivals in the Höxter district — a combination of a classic city festival in the center and the parallel Spring Fair at Feuerteich. The city of Brakel, with its approximately 16,000 inhabitants, attracts thousands of visitors from the entire region every year — from the Weserbergland and the Eggegebirge to neighboring Hesse. In 2026, the festival will take place from May 15th to 17th, with the Spring Fair starting on May 14th.

2026 Program — Opening on Friday, May 15th

The official city festival kickoff will take place on Friday, May 15th, 2026, at 6:00 PM with the keg tapping by the mayor on the 'Am Thy' stage. Afterwards, the Brakel City Band will play, followed by DJ entertainment late into the night. Saturday, May 16th, will feature the main program — live bands on the 'Am Thy' stage, DJ sets at the market square, the traditional children's flea market, the health mile with local practices and pharmacies, and a science forum on nature and technology topics. Sunday, May 17th, will include Sunday shopping in the city center, a family program, and a closing celebration.

Spring Fair at Feuerteich

Starting as early as Thursday, May 14th, 2026, the Spring Fair at Feuerteich — the festival grounds in Brakel's city park — will open. Amusement rides for young and old, from carousel and bumper cars to modern thrill rides, classic showman stalls with sweets, lottery booths, and shooting galleries. The fair runs parallel to the city center festival and expands the festival weekend with the Volksfest (public festival) component. The distance between the city center and Feuerteich is short — both areas merge into a cohesive festival ground.

Main Locations at a Glance

• 'Am Thy' Stage — Live performances, keg tapping, main stage
• Brakel Market Square — DJ program, food stalls, meeting point
• Hanekamp — Market and gastronomy stalls
• Feuerteich — Spring Fair with amusement rides and showmen
• City Center — Sunday shopping, health mile, children's flea market

Brakel — the Witch City in the Hochstift Paderborn

Brakel in the Höxter district (Ostwestfalen) looks back on over 1,000 years of history — the medieval city was part of the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn and is now a member of the Westphalian Hanseatic League. Sights include the historic market square with the old town hall, the late Gothic parish church of St. Michael, and the preserved city wall with the Hexenturm (Witches' Tower). The city is often promoted touristically with the keyword 'Witch City' — Brakel was the scene of several witch trials in the 17th century. Those who combine the city festival with a weekend in the region can easily include Corvey Castle (UNESCO World Heritage in Höxter), the Weserbergland, and the Eggegebirge.

Sponsors and Organizers

The main sponsor of the city festival is Verbundvolksbank OWL eG, supplemented by Westenergie, MGrafix, and other local companies. The organizer is the city of Brakel in cooperation with the local business association and participating clubs, schools, and restaurateurs.