Herringer Jahrmarkt

Herringen — District in western Hamm

Hamm, with around 180,000 inhabitants, is a major city and district-free city in the eastern Ruhr area (Arnsberg administrative district). With the Maximilianpark and the Lippe river landscape, it is one of the greener major city centers in North Rhine-Westphalia. Herringen, a western district of Hamm, has its own identity — with a village character, its own club life, and the annual Herringer Jahrmarkt. In 2026, the Jahrmarkt will run from May 8th to 10th.

Tradition in Spring

The Herringer Jahrmarkt is a classic Westphalian district Jahrmarkt: three festival days from Friday to Sunday with rides, candy stalls, snack stands, and a beer tent. The City of Hamm and the Showmen's Association organize the event together with the local heritage association and the district's clubs.

Rides 2026

Confirmed rides for 2026 include: Hip Hop Party (rotating high-thrill ride with music stage), Musik-Shop (carousel with musical stage), Number 1 (classic carousel format), plus usually dodgem cars, children's carousel, Ferris wheel, or other high-thrill rides. Skill games (dart throwing, strongman hammer, dice games) and candy stalls (almonds, cotton candy, gingerbread hearts, chocolate-covered fruit) complete the offerings.

Snacks and Beer Tent

Food is provided by snack stands with classic Jahrmarkt fare: Bratwurst, Fries with various sauces, Reibekuchen (Westphalian specialty), crêpes, Berliner doughnuts, Würzfleisch, shashlik. The beer tent offers festival beer on tap and a convivial meeting point for families and groups of friends. Local clubs are represented with their own stands — proceeds go to club activities.

District Atmosphere Instead of Mass Kirmes

Unlike large city-center Volksfests (e.g., Cranger Kirmes in Herne), the Herringer Jahrmarkt has the atmosphere of a classic district festival: manageable size, personal encounters, local club life, neighborhood character. Families from Herringen, Mark, Bockum-Hövel, and the surrounding Hamm districts gather for the three-day spring celebration.

Hamm as a Festival City

The city of Hamm has a rich Jahrmarkt tradition with several major events throughout the year: a city festival in summer, the Hammer Kirmes on Adenauerplatz, the Herringer Jahrmarkt in May, and an Advent market in December. The Hamm Showmen's Association is one of the oldest in Westphalia and supplies the districts with ride setups.

Getting There

Herringen is easily accessible by public transport from Hamm: Bus line 1 (Stadtwerke Hamm) stop Herringen. By car: A2 motorway exit Hamm/Bergkamen, then to the Herringen district. About a 10-15 minute drive from downtown Hamm. Parking around the festival grounds (limited — public transport recommended).