Hemeraner Herbsttage

More than half a century of tradition

As the days get shorter and the first leaves fall, Hemer begins its most important city festival season of the year: The Hemeraner Herbsttage has been bringing together residents and visitors from across the Märkischer Kreis and beyond for over five decades for a three-day city festival. According to the city administration, the 2026 edition, from September 25th to 27th, aims to 'make the city centre shine' — with over 200 exhibitors, several music stages, street artists, and a full autumn funfair with rides.

Over 200 exhibitors along 1 km of the city centre

The festival mile stretches for more than a kilometre along Hemer's main street and adjacent squares. The over 200 exhibitors include retailers from Hemer and the surrounding area, craftspeople, manufacturers, associations, social organisations, and caterers. In addition, there is a car market with new and used vehicles, a gourmet area with regional specialities, and the traditional autumn market with plants, floristry, and seasonal products.

Music stages, street artists, and funfair

Over the three days, several music stages will feature performances by local bands, school choirs, cover bands, and some national acts. There will also be street artists — acrobats, mimes, musicians — performing spontaneously between the stalls. Rides from the autumn funfair will be set up in the city centre squares: a Ferris wheel, carousels, bouncy castles, and snack stands. The mix of a classic city festival, market, and funfair defines the unique character of the Hemeraner Herbsttage.

'A Festival from Hemer for Hemer'

The city of Hemer describes the festival as 'a festival from Hemer for Hemer' — a deliberately local focus that prioritises the city festival aspect over a purely tourist format. Nevertheless, the festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year from the entire Märkischer Kreis and neighbouring regions such as Iserlohn, Menden, Plettenberg, and even the Sauerland. Associations and schools are actively involved in stand and stage programmes, keeping the core idea of a community festival alive.

Hemer in the Märkischer Kreis

Hemer (around 33,000 inhabitants) is a town in the Märkischer Kreis in Südwestfalen, located at the transition from the Ruhr area to the Sauerland. Hemer is known as the location of the former State Garden Show 2010 (Sauerlandpark) and for its scenic location at the Felsenmeer — a geological natural monument. The centre of Hemer combines historic rows of houses, modern shops, and spacious squares — the ideal backdrop for a city festival with a funfair character.