Kreuzerhöhungskirmes Coesfeld

The Münsterland Traditional Funfair

The Kreuzerhöhungskirmes Coesfeld is one of the most traditional funfairs in the Münsterland. It takes place every year on the third weekend in September — linked to the Catholic holiday of the Exaltation of the Cross on September 14th, which gives the festival its name. In 2026, the funfair runs from Friday, September 19th, to Sunday, September 21st, 2026, in Coesfeld's city center.

City Center Becomes an Amusement Park

Coesfeld's city center transforms into a compact amusement park for three days. Around 50 rides and game stalls are spread across the central squares and streets. Highlights include:

• Musikexpress — a classic with pulsating music
• Flash-High-Voltage — an adrenaline ride
• Bumper cars, carousels, Ferris wheel
• Shooting galleries and skill games
• Food stalls with classic funfair specialties (bratwurst, potato pancakes, candied almonds, gingerbread hearts)
• Sweets stalls

Market Stalls on the Weekend

A special feature of the Kreuzerhöhungskirmes is the Krammarkt (market stalls), which unfolds in the streets on Saturday and Sunday alongside the funfair. Here, itinerant traders sell textiles, household goods, fashion, jewelry, tools, and gift items — the classic German market tradition that combines a funfair with a sales market.

Family Day on Monday

Monday is designated as Family Day — many rides offer reduced prices and special promotions for families with children. This tradition makes the last day of the funfair particularly attractive for families from Coesfeld and the surrounding area.

Coesfeld — District Capital in Western Münsterland

Coesfeld, with around 37,000 inhabitants, is the district capital of the Coesfeld district in North Rhine-Westphalia, located in the western Münsterland region near the Dutch border. The historically grown city center with its half-timbered houses and the central Lambertikirche forms the festive backdrop. Coesfeld is a region with a strong affinity for funfairs — in addition to the Kreuzerhöhungskirmes, there is the Spring Funfair in spring. However, the Kreuzerhöhungskirmes is the most prominent of the two folk festivals and attracts visitors from the entire Coesfeld district.

Exaltation of the Cross as a Religious Background

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on September 14th dates back to the discovery of the Holy Cross by Empress Helena (mother of Constantine) in 326 AD. It is an important holiday in the Catholic and Orthodox churches and, in Münsterland — a traditionally Catholic region — gives its name to numerous funfairs.