HERKULES Festival — Herne Children's Culture Summer

A Summer of Culture for Children — Unique Nationwide

The HERKULES Festival, officially the "Herne Children's Culture Summer", is one of the most ambitious municipal cultural programs for children in Germany. From May 1 to July 17, 2026, the Herne City Cultural Office, in cooperation with municipal cultural institutions, will offer over 100 events for children aged 2 to 12 — all free. The goal: cultural participation for all children in Herne, regardless of their parents' income.

The HERKULES Festival in Schlosspark Strünkede — June 20 and 21, 2026

The highlight of the eleven-week program is the HERKULES Festival on the weekend of June 20 and 21, 2026, in Schlosspark Strünkede. Two days, from 1 PM to 6 PM each day, filled with hands-on activities, interactive stations, stage performances, and international culinary delights. Families from Herne and the surrounding area come with picnic blankets and children; the castle park becomes a children's paradise.

The HERKULES Festival at a Glance

• Date: June 20 and 21, 2026
• Time: 1 PM to 6 PM (both days)
• Location: Schlosspark Strünkede, Herne
• Admission: free
• Program: Hands-on stations, stages, interactive workshops, international cuisine

Over 100 Events — The Partners

The HERKULES program is a collaborative project of all Herne cultural institutions:

• Herne City Library — Readings, storytelling sessions, book workshops
• Emschertal Museum — Hands-on exhibitions, local history for children
• Wanne-Eickel Youth Art School — Painting, crafts, sculpture workshops
• Herne Music School — Instrument try-outs, children's concerts, singspiels
• LWL Museum of Archaeology — History workshops, hands-on archaeological activities
• Other Partners: Children's theaters, dance groups, independent organizations, schools

The Program Guide

The complete program — over 100 individual events with dates, locations, age recommendations, and descriptions — will be published in a printed program guide and as a PDF on herne.de/herkules. Families can choose specific events based on their interests and availability. Registration is required for some workshops (limited spots); most stage programs and open hands-on stations are accessible without registration.

A Cultural Participation Strategy

Behind the HERKULES Festival lies a deliberate municipal cultural policy: Herne (approx. 156,000 inhabitants) is one of the less affluent cities in the Ruhr area, with an above-average number of children from families with a migration background or in difficult financial circumstances. The HERKULES concept ensures that all children have access to culture, education, and creativity without financial barriers during the eleven-week season. A model exemplary nationwide.

Schlosspark Strünkede — The Central Venue

Schlosspark Strünkede in Herne is one of the greenest and most beautiful park areas in the northern Ruhr region, with the historic Schloss Strünkede at its center. The castle now houses the Emschertal Museum. For the HERKULES Festival, the park becomes a stage — with hands-on stations spread among the old trees, a main stage for children's concerts and theater, and food trucks on the periphery.