Frühlingsvolksfest Witten-Annen

Spring Kick-off to the Volksfest Season

After Carnival and Ash Wednesday, when the days noticeably lengthen and the first rays of sunshine warm the city centers, the Volksfest season returns to the Ruhr area. In Witten-Annen, the Frühlingsvolksfest traditionally marks this transition — a four-day fair with rides, food stalls, and family entertainment. From March 13 to 16, 2026, the festival opens its gates on the rear Kaufland parking lot.

Opening with Keg Tapping Ceremony

The event kicks off on Friday, March 13, 2026, at 3:00 PM with the traditional Fassbieranstich (tapping of the beer keg) — presumably by the Mayor of Witten or a board member of Stadtmarketing. With the tapping of the first keg, the festival officially begins, the rides start operating, and the food stalls open. The opening ceremony is traditionally a relaxed occasion where residents, district representatives, and showman families meet.

"Annen feiert" on Sunday, March 15

The highlight of the festival weekend is Sunday, March 15, 2026, with the "Annen feiert" district program. Stadtmarketing Witten and local associations present an additional program with stage performances, district presentations, and family activities — turning the fair into a true district festival. Local bands, dance groups, and school choirs perform, associations present their work, and culinary offerings complement the ride catering.

Monday, March 16 — Family Day with Discounts

The final day, Monday, March 16, 2026, is Family Day: rides at reduced prices, special children's activities, and a more relaxed pace. This tradition of Family Days at the end of a fair can be found at many folk festivals in Westphalia — a deliberate incentive for families who avoided the full weekend to catch up at the festival on the quieter weekday.

Rides, Food Stalls, Family Atmosphere

The Frühlingsvolksfest follows the format of a classic medium-sized fair: carousels, smaller rides, a Ferris wheel (depending on the edition), shooting galleries, lottery stalls, candy stands, Bratwurst stalls, Brandenburg almonds, French fries, and crêpe stands. Its size — fitting for the rear Kaufland parking lot — is family-friendly and manageable, well-proportioned for a district with 28,000 inhabitants (Witten-Annen).

Witten-Annen in the Ennepe-Ruhr District

Witten-Annen is a district of the city of Witten in the Ennepe-Ruhr district, located in the southern Ruhr area between Bochum and Dortmund. With around 28,000 inhabitants, Annen is one of Witten's largest districts — characterized by former miners' settlements, Wilhelminian-era buildings, and modern residential construction. The Frühlingsvolksfest is one of the most important regular district events — and the start of an entire Volksfest season, which continues in the summer in a larger format with the Witten Kirmes on the market square.