Frühlingsfest and HEIMATmarkt Simmern

The Frühlingsfest and HEIMATmarkt Simmern is a combined concept of a spring market, a regional showcase, and a Sunday shopping event, which the Hunsrück district town of Simmern holds annually in March. The event marks the traditional start of the market season in the Hunsrück region.

The central venue is the historic Schinderhannesturm — a landmark of the town dating back to the medieval city fortifications and named after the legendary highwayman Johannes Bückler (“Schinderhannes”), who was briefly imprisoned here. Around the tower and in the adjacent Oberstraße, market stalls gather for an atmospheric spring market.

The HEIMATmarkt, as a brand component, focuses on regional producers and vendors from the Hunsrück and surrounding areas. Here, visitors can find handcrafted items such as woodwork, basket weaving, ceramics, and textiles; culinary specialties ranging from honey and jams to sausages and meats; plants and perennials for the start of spring in the garden; as well as decorations and small gift ideas. The Simmern Business Association and partners like Welker-Emmerich (specialty plant retailer) are among the driving forces behind the market.

Market stalls open at 11:00 AM, and the gastronomic area serves regional specialties from early morning drinks to lunch — Palatinate and Hunsrück classics, along with coffee and homemade cakes. From 1:00 PM, the shops in Simmern's city center open for Sunday shopping, often featuring spring promotions, fashion shows, and special offers.

The market day is accompanied by musical performances on a small stage, hands-on activities and craft workshops for children, and events organized by local clubs. This makes the Frühlingsfest not just an occasion for shopping but also a social gathering point, bringing together the residents of the Simmern-Rheinböllen collective municipality and their guests in the city center.