Fischeln Open — Krefeld-Fischeln District Festival

Fischeln Open — Krefeld's Largest District Festival

The Fischeln Open is no ordinary district festival — by its own definition, it is Krefeld's largest district festival and one of the most important events in the annual Krefeld event calendar. The organizer is the Werbering Fischeln 1985 e.V. — a business association with almost 40 years of history, responsible for the district marketing and self-promotion of Krefeld-Fischeln. In 2026, another edition of this now-established format will take place — with over 25 editions held so far.

Kölner Straße — 1 km Car-Free Pedestrian Zone

The concept: The Kölner Straße, usually a busy thoroughfare between Krefeld-Mitte and the Fischeln district, will be completely closed for one Sunday and transformed into a car-free pedestrian zone — approximately 1 km in length. Along this route, local businesses, restaurants, clubs, initiatives, schools, and daycare centers will present themselves with stands in front of their doors.

2 Stages with Show and Music Programs

A continuous program will run on 2 large stages:

• Bands and solo artists in various genres (pop, rock, Schlager, folk, jazz)
• Dance groups and acrobats
• Performances by local clubs, schools, and kindergartens
• Walking acts and street entertainment along Kölner Straße

Street Food, Helicopter Flights, Horse-Drawn Carriages

The accompanying offerings are diverse:

• Street food and food trucks with German cuisine, international specialties, vegetarian/vegan options
• Drinks and bars
• Helicopter rides over Krefeld — a rare experience for a district festival
• Historic horse-drawn carriages for nostalgic rides
• Market stalls selling jewelry, fashion, flowers, and handicrafts
• Interactive stations for children and families

Sunday Shopping 3–6 PM

The shops along Kölner Straße will be open from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Sunday — a classic Sunday shopping event, coupled with the district festival. This makes Fischeln Open also an economic event for the local economy.

Krefeld-Fischeln and the District Community

Fischeln is a southern district of Krefeld with about 16,000 inhabitants. Krefeld itself — known as the "City of Velvet and Silk" due to its textile tradition — has about 230,000 inhabitants and is located on the Lower Rhine between Düsseldorf and the Dutch border. Fischeln was historically an independent town and retains a distinct district character to this day — as evidenced by the commitment of the Werbering Fischeln and the vibrancy of Fischeln Open.