Heeper Ting

Since 1979, Heepen's District Festival

The Heeper Ting is the most important Volksfest (traditional folk festival) in Bielefeld's Heepen district. Since its first edition in 1979 — initiated by the local business association and the district office — the festival has grown as a "citizens for citizens" event and is a firm fixture in Bielefeld's event calendar. In 2026, the festival will take place from Friday, September 4th, to Sunday, September 6th.

Three Days of Programming — What to Expect

• Stage Program: Live music, dance performances, and sports demonstrations by local groups and artists of various levels — from school choirs to cover bands.
• Flea Market: Saturday and Sunday — completely booked. 3m stalls for €27 per day, booking online via the Bielefeld city portal (BundID required).
• Arts and Crafts Market: Can be registered separately, featuring handmade products from Bielefeld creatives.
• Amusement Rides and Fairground: Carousels, Ferris wheel, bumper cars, and small fairground attractions for children and adults.
• Food and Drink: Bratwurst, Reibekuchen (potato pancakes), fries, crêpes, beer, wine, cocktails — from Heepen clubs and restaurateurs.

What does "Ting" mean?

The name refers to the Germanic tradition: A Thing (also Ding, Ting) was a three-day assembly of people and justice, held outdoors in pre-Christian times. The organizers of the Heeper Ting deliberately chose this historical reference — as a symbol of community, exchange, and democracy in the neighborhood.

Heepen — Bielefeld's Eastern District

Heepen is one of Bielefeld's city districts and is located in the east of the city. With over 50,000 inhabitants, it is Bielefeld's largest district, yet it has retained its own distinct village identity — especially in the Heepen town center around Heeper Straße, where the Ting takes place. Bielefeld is the largest city in Ostwestfalen-Lippe and a university city with one of the most vibrant cultural scene networks in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Organizers and Management

The commercial aspects — stalls, catering, amusement rides — are managed by the Interessen- und Werbegemeinschaft Heepen e.V. (Heepen Business and Promotion Association). The cultural program and the honoring of deserving citizens are organized by the Heepen District Office. This division of responsibilities has ensured the mix of a folk festival and a community festival for decades.

Getting There

By train: S-Bahn or Regio to Bielefeld Hbf, then bus line 21 or 22 towards Heepen, stop Heepen Mitte. By car via the A2 (exit Bielefeld-Ost). Parking in residential streets, quickly occupied on festival days — the bus is the better option.