41. Kirchlinder Woche

41 Years of Kirchlinder Woche

The Kirchlinder Woche is the largest volunteer-organized district festival week in Dortmund-West. Since its first edition in the 1980s, it has developed into the identity-shaping event of the Dortmund-West district — supported by IG Kirchlinde, an association of local clubs, businesses, and volunteers. The 41st edition runs from Monday, May 25th to Sunday, May 31st, 2026, with the grand street festival on the Pentecost weekend from May 29th to 31st.

Preliminary Program: Peace Run, Riding Club, Children's Festival, Football Tournament

The festival week starts on Monday, May 25th with the 30th Dortmund Peace Run — an anniversary edition of one of the region's most important school running events. On Tuesday, May 26th at 3:00 PM, the family afternoon takes place at the Reiterverein Dortmund-Kirchlinde at Westerwikstraße/Mosselde 150a. The Children's and Youth Festival on Wednesday, May 27th at 4:00 PM in the community center (Westerwikstraße 13) offers street soccer, table tennis, a bouncy castle, and creative activities for ages 6 and up — organized by SJD-Die Falken and KJT Kirchlinde. On Thursday, May 28th, youth games will take place on the Bärenbruch sports field starting at 5:00 PM, followed at 6:00 PM by the 5th KiWo Cup — an internal football tournament of VfR Kirchlinde 1919 e.V.

Festival Weekend May 29th–31st at Kirchlinder Kreuzung

The highlight is the grand street festival at the central Kirchlinder Kreuzung from Friday to Sunday. Friday, May 29th: Opening from 6:00 PM with DJ Thomas Kolodziejek, at 7:00 PM the Gut Klang drum corps performs, at 7:30 PM District Mayor Alexander Kalouti and IG Chairman Mario Gacek officially open the festival with the keg tapping — free beer included. From 8:00 PM, the party band „Party Inferno“ rocks the festival tent. Saturday, May 30th: Flea market 1:00 PM–6:00 PM (Kirchlinder Str., private sellers only), regional clubs on stage 1:30 PM–4:00 PM, from 4:30 PM the traditional Dortmund-Kirchlinder Bed Race — the regional championship in racing beds on wheels. At 6:30 PM, the „Huckarder Goldstück“ award ceremony. From 8:00 PM, Diana Sorbello and Olaf Henning live on the main stage. Sunday, May 31st: Ecumenical service at 12:00 PM on the square, clown show with balloon modeling at 1:00 PM, Shanty Chor Dortmund at 2:30 PM, DJ finale from 5:00 PM — festival concludes at 6:00 PM.

The Bed Race — Kirchlinde's Trademark

The Bed Race on Saturday afternoon is the iconic element of the Kirchlinder Woche and a Dortmund original: teams from clubs, companies, and friend groups compete with self-built, four-wheeled beds, racing down Kirchlinder Str. Costumes, disguises, and creative bed designs are mandatory — the winner is added to the long list of Kirchlinder Bed Race champions.

Kirchlinde — Dortmund-West District

Kirchlinde is a district in the Huckarde borough in western Dortmund, located on the edge of the Ruhr area towards Castrop-Rauxel. The Kirchlinder Kreuzung forms the center of this working-class district, once shaped by mining (Zeche Hansa) and now fostering a vibrant club scene. The Kirchlinder Woche is an expression of this civic energy — all program points are free thanks to volunteer support.