Das Fest Wermelskirchen

Spring Festival in the Bergisches Land

"Das Fest" is Wermelskirchen's big spring festival and takes place every year on the weekend after Ascension Day. In 2026, this will be May 16th and 17th. The entire city center will be closed to car traffic and transformed into an open festival mile with stands, activities, music, and specialties. The organizer is WiW Marketing e.V. – the advertising and marketing association of Wermelskirchen merchants, located at Telegrafenstraße 9.

Automotive Spring at the Eich

A classic is the Automotive Spring at the Eich: local car dealerships present their spring models directly in the city center. From family station wagons to electric and hybrid vehicles to sporty convertibles – a compact car show right on your doorstep. For car enthusiasts, the Automotive Spring is often the main reason to visit the festival.

Clubs, Retailers, and Activities in the City Center

On Telegrafenstraße, Schwanen, and Marktstraße, Wermelskirchen clubs and shops present themselves – marching bands, sports clubs, support groups, and the entire spectrum of local citizens' initiatives. Participating businesses offer special promotions, small special deals, and hands-on activities. Music from several stages, gastronomy with bratwurst, crêpes, cocktails, and Bergisches specialties.

Flea Market and Art Market on Sunday

The highlight for many visitors is the flea market on Telegrafenstraße on Sunday – a classic open-air flea market with bargain hunting atmosphere. In parallel, from 1 PM to 6 PM on Sunday, the art market takes place with works by regional artists – painting, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, textiles, photography.

Wermelskirchen – Bergisches Land in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis

Wermelskirchen is located in the southern Bergisches Land in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis. The city, with around 35,000 inhabitants, is characterized by its old ribbon weaving and slate industries and is scenically located between the Eifgenbach and Dhünn valleys. The Bergisches Land, with its dams, forests, and half-timbered villages, is a local recreation area for Wuppertal, Cologne, and the Ruhr area.

Tradition for Decades

"Das Fest" has existed in its current form since the 1990s as the city's central spring festival. It serves as a showcase for the local economy, an occasion for club presentations, and a social meeting point. Several tens of thousands of visitors from Wermelskirchen and the surrounding area – Burscheid, Hückeswagen, Remscheid, Solingen – come to the city center that weekend.