Heessen Village Fair

Heessen Village Fair — Three Days of Volksfest in Northern Hamm

In the northern district of Heessen in the Westphalian city of Hamm, the village fair holds a firm place in the summer calendar. From June 15th to 17th, 2026, the Heessen market square will transform into a festival ground for three days with rides, game stalls, food stands, and a stage program. The concept is deliberately classic: a balanced mix of carousels, children's rides, and throwing stalls with catering for the whole family.

Showman Association "Hand in Hand" Hamm

The organizer is the Showman Association "Hand in Hand" Hamm e.V., a social association founded over 50 years ago by and for showmen. The association organizes three Volksfeste per year:

• The Herringener Jahrmarkt in summer (Hamm-Herringen)
• The Heessen Village Fair in summer (Hamm-Heessen)
• The Stunikenmarkt in the city center around the Pauluskirche on the third weekend of September

The Heessen fair is the event that has most strongly preserved the character of a village Volksfest — even though Heessen, with around 16,000 inhabitants, has long been an independent district with its own infrastructure.

Rides and Atmosphere

Rides, game stalls, and food stands line the market square. The program deliberately appeals to the whole family: children's rides and carousels take up at least as much space as thrill rides. In addition, classic throwing and shooting stalls, lottery ticket sales, and raffles characterize the scene. The culinary offerings range from bratwurst to crêpes and candied almonds, to Westphalian specialties such as Pumpernickel variations and Pfefferpotthast.

Heessen — Northern Hamm Between the Lippe River and the City Limits

The district of Heessen is located north of the city of Hamm, directly at the transition to Münsterland and on the Lippe river. Until 1975, Heessen was an independent city — the municipal reform made it a district of Hamm. This history of independence explains why the village element of the fair is so present here. Worth seeing in Heessen: the 17th-century Schloss Oberwerries, the Gymnasium Heessen, and the Lippe floodplains with their hiking trails.

Hamm — Westphalian City with Showman Tradition

The independent city of Hamm is located in the eastern Ruhr metropolitan region and at the transition to Münsterland. With almost 180,000 inhabitants, it is one of the larger cities in Westphalia and hosts a traditional showman culture. The showman association alone organizes three annual Volksfeste, in addition to other district fairs and the large Hamm Christmas Market in the city center. The Heessen Village Fair is the June event in this series of Volksfeste — a deliberately smaller, more familial alternative to the large city center events.