Kettwig Summer Festival

Three Days of Kettwig Old Town Summer

The Kettwig Sommerfest is one of the most distinctive district festivals in the Ruhr area. From June 27th to 29th, 2026, the clubs and traders of Kettwig's old town will bring three central squares to life: Marktplatz, Bürgermeister-Fiedler-Platz (seat of the Heimat- und Verkehrsverein), and Märchenbrunnenplatz. For three days, there will be a summer program here – with a wine garden, live music, traders, and children's activities.

What Makes Kettwig Special

Kettwig is not "Essen city center with an appendage" but an independent town center with its own medieval cityscape: narrow alleys, half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, the Marktkirche on Marktplatz, and the historic Alte Kirche. Incorporated into the city of Essen in 1975, Kettwig has preserved its identity – with active civic life, its own clubs, and a series of well-established district festivals (Wine Festival in May, Summer Festival in June, Heritage Festival in September).

Program Components

The Summer Festival follows a classic three-day district festival format:

• Wine Garden – the heart of the festival. A temporary open-air wine garden with selected wines, cozy seating, and shaded areas will be set up on one of the squares. A very Kettwig-like classic.
• Live Music – bands on several stages, from acoustic sets in the afternoon to cover bands and party music in the evening.
• Stalls – arts and crafts, fashion, regional products; local retail shops open.
• Children's Attractions – carousels, interactive stations, bouncy castles.
• Gastronomy – Kettwig restaurateurs and stalls offering classic Volksfest (traditional folk festival) fare and upscale snacks.

Heimat- und Verkehrsverein Kettwig e.V.

The organizer is the Heimat- und Verkehrsverein Kettwig e.V., located at Bürgermeister-Fiedler-Platz 3. The association organizes several district festivals throughout the year (Wine Festival, Summer Festival, Heritage Festival), as well as night watchman tours through the old town and sculpture park tours. Also participating are AGIL Kettwig (a business association) and local retailers.

Kettwig in Southern Essen

Essen-Kettwig (approx. 17,000 inhabitants) is located on the southernmost edge of the city of Essen, directly on the Ruhr river and at the transition to the Bergisches Land region. The old town is a destination for visitors from the entire Ruhr area, from Düsseldorf, Mülheim, and the Bergisches Land. Easily accessible via the Ruhrtalradweg (Ruhr Valley Cycle Path) and the A52 motorway.