Spring Sprödentalkirmes Krefeld

Spring Sprödentalkirmes — Krefeld's Century-Old Volksfest

When the scent of roasted almonds, bratwurst, and crêpes fills the air at the Sprödentalplatz, Krefeld knows: the city's largest funfair is here. From April 30 to May 10, 2026, the Spring Sprödentalkirmes lasts eleven days — attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually from across the Lower Rhine, the Ruhr area, the Netherlands, and the Belgian border region. In 2026, the Sprödentalkirmes celebrates its over 100-year history: for more than a century, it has been held on the same site in the west of Krefeld's city center — a family event that enjoys cult status in the Lower Rhine showman scene.

131 Showmen and 14 Major Rides

The 2026 spring edition brings 131 showmen to the Sprödentalplatz, including 14 major rides of the first league. Highlights:

• Airwolf (Weber) — action ride with flipping movements
• Excalibur (Bruch) — swinging giant pendulum
• High Explosive (Vorlop) — high-adrenaline ride
• Ferris Wheel (Gormanns) — the family classic with views over Krefeld
• Looping the Loop (Loritz) — classic looping roller coaster
• Shake & Roll — modern circular ride variant
• Sky Swing — high-altitude carousel
• Autoscooter Golden Greats — the largest bumper cars on tour

The phalanx of rides is complemented by haunted houses, children's rides, funhouses, classic ring toss and shooting galleries, lottery stalls, and of course, the full funfair culinary experience — from Schmalzkuchen (fried dough pastries) and Reibekuchen (potato pancakes) to crêperies and the Krefeld Pils beer stand.

The Three Grand Festival Days

The Sprödentalkirmes has three days that every Krefeld resident knows:

Flag Day — Monday, May 4, 2026

A Krefeld specialty: anyone bringing a paper flag from the town hall receives a free ride from many showmen. The flags are distributed in the days leading up to Flag Day at the town hall and other city locations — a tradition that attracts crowds of children and families.

Family Day — Thursday, May 7, 2026

On Family Day, all showmen lower their prices and offer special deals. Arguably the cheapest day of the entire funfair, attracting families with multiple children from Krefeld and the surrounding area.

Fireworks — Friday, May 1 and 8, 2026, around 10 PM each night

On both Friday evenings, the grand fireworks display takes place over the Sprödentalplatz — best viewed from all high points in Krefeld and from the surrounding Lower Rhine communities.

Sprödentalplatz — Krefeld's Event Venue

The Sprödentalplatz is located in western Krefeld, easily accessible on foot and by tram from the city center. It has been the city's festival grounds for decades: in addition to the spring funfair, it also hosts the Autumn Sprödentalkirmes (October) and other events. Its connection via tram lines 042, 043, and 044 from Krefeld main station makes it easily accessible for visitors from outside the city.

Krefeld — The Velvet and Silk City on the Lower Rhine

The independent city of Krefeld, with its nearly 230,000 inhabitants, is located on the left bank of the Lower Rhine, about 30 kilometers northwest of Düsseldorf. Known as the historic Velvet and Silk City due to its traditional textile industry, it is now characterized by the chemical (Bayer/Currenta), steel (Outokumpu), and food industries. Worth seeing are the Museum Burg Linn, the Krefeld Racecourse, and the Haus Esters/Haus Lange (Mies van der Rohe). The Sprödentalkirmes is the city's most important Volksfest event and one of the largest spring funfairs in North Rhine-Westphalia — comparable to the Sendenhorst Summer Funfair or the Düsseldorf Grand Funfair on the Rhine.