Hilden Civic Festival

A Festival by Hilden Residents for Hilden Residents

The Hilden Civic Festival is a city festival organized by the Cultural Office of the City of Hilden, deliberately focusing on local actors. The motto 'Hilden Residents for Hilden Residents' is not just a slogan: the performing groups – choirs, bands, dance and theater ensembles from the city – receive no fee. Instead of payment, the city provides a professional stage with lighting and sound technology. This creates an authentic city festival that truly comes from the city's population.

2026 Program: Two Days, Two Stages

The 2026 festival will take place on Saturday, July 11th, and Sunday, July 12th, 2026. The event area stretches from the Stadtpark with its lawns and paths to the 'Deinhilden' community center in the city center. Two open-air stages will host the program: concerts and dance performances of various styles over both days. On Sunday morning, the Stadtpark becomes a relaxed picnic zone for families – with performances by the Hilden Music School and the Hilden participatory circus for children.

Mayoral Bet and Local Traditions

A special feature of Hilden is the Mayoral Bet: Claus Pommer, the city's mayor, traditionally makes a bet with local clubs or citizens – for example, whether a certain activity can be completed within the festival weekend. The loser must take on a humorous task. This gives the festival a humane, almost carnival-esque element that playfully reduces the distance between administration and citizens.

Hilden Between Düsseldorf and the Bergisches Land

With around 55,000 inhabitants, Hilden is the largest district town in the Mettmann district (North Rhine-Westphalia) and lies just 15 kilometers east of Düsseldorf. The city has established itself as a location for small and medium-sized businesses and as a residential city for commuters, while at the same time preserving a vibrant civic culture. The Civic Festival is an expression of this identity: no stars from Cologne or Düsseldorf, but the city's own choirs, bands, and dance groups.

Call to Hilden Artists

The Cultural Office of the City of Hilden annually calls on local bands, choirs, dance groups, and solo artists to apply for the next festival edition (contact: [email protected]). The selection is made based on stylistic diversity. Thus, the festival offers a cross-section of the city's cultural scene – from pop and classical to folk dance, hip-hop, and spoken word, as well as inclusive theater groups.