Helfer Herbst- und Musiktage

Born out of solidarity

The Helfer Herbst- und Musiktage have a clear origin. 1994, Helfe Primary School in Hagen's north burned down — a catastrophe for the district and the families whose children attended school there. Out of this emergency, parents and residents founded the Förderverein der Grundschule Helfe e.V. and organized an initial fundraising festival on Helfer Marktplatz. What began as a one-off act of solidarity has become a firm tradition over the years — more than 30 editions have been held since then, and 2025 was the 31st edition. The 32nd edition is expected in 2026.

Three days under one party tent

The venue is the large party tent on Helfer Marktplatz in the Hagen-Helfe district, in the middle of Hagen's northern city area in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The festival traditionally runs for three days from Friday to Sunday in October. The main program takes place inside the tent: stage, dance floor, bar, seating areas. Outside the tent, there are food stalls and catering provided by volunteers.

Live music with district identity

The musical program ranges from cover bands and rock acts to DJ sets with hits from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. Proven regular acts from previous years included Social Club (live rock cover), Greyhound (rock and blues), RoSi (acoustic rock/pop duo), and DJ Laigi. In addition, there is a dedicated family area on Saturday afternoons with children's choirs, dance groups, and performances by the circus Quamboni — deliberately tailored to the children of the district.

Proceeds for the primary school

What makes the Helfer Herbst special: The entire proceeds go back to the primary school and to children's projects in Hagen's north. This clearly distinguishes the festival from commercial events — it is run by volunteers, managed transparently, and closely connected to the district. Over 30 years of consistent support have made Helfe Primary School a school with above-average facilities today, from which the school and the district both benefit.

Hagen — Industrial city with district identity

Hagen, with just under 187,000 inhabitants on the southern edge of the Ruhr area, is an independent city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Like many Ruhr area cities, Hagen consists of several historically grown districts with their own identity. Helfe, in the north of Hagen on the border with Schwerte, is one of these independent districts — with its own primary school, its own market square, its own club culture. The Helfer Herbst- und Musiktage are an expression of this independent identity, and at the same time an act of community solidarity.