Maikirmes Duisdorf

Bonn's West and Hardtberg Tradition

The Hardtberg district is located in western Bonn, bordering Bornheim and Alfter. Its centre is the Duisdorf district, which has its own small town centre with Rochusstraße, Bahnhofstraße, and Europaplatz – many Hardtberg residents see Duisdorf more as their 'home' than the city of Bonn. The Maikirmes Duisdorf has been part of this identity for decades: its own, manageable fair, organized by the Ortsfestausschuss Duisdorf, which brings showmen to Europaplatz and the lower Rochusstraße every spring.

Carousels, Bumper Cars, and Fairground Classics

The Maikirmes is a true family fair – not a mega-spectacle like Pützchens Markt in the summer, but a compact mix of rides, shooting galleries, sweets, and snacks. The programme includes carousels for toddlers, bumper cars, a swing boat, a children's carousel, a haunted house, shooting galleries, lottery stalls, a ring toss stall, plus snack stands with bratwurst, potato pancakes (Reibekuchen), fries, candied almonds, and cotton candy. In some years, there is also a Ferris wheel on Europaplatz, offering views over western Bonn to Venusberg.

Around May 1st

The date is traditionally the bridge days around May 1st. In 2026, the Maikirmes starts on Thursday, April 30th (the day before May 1st, which falls on a Friday), and runs until Monday, May 4th. This allows the fair to benefit from the long weekend and attract visitors not only from Hardtberg but also from Bonn city centre, Bornheim, and Alfter. On Labour Day itself – Friday, May 1st – the fair is particularly busy; many families combine the day off with a stroll around the grounds.

Family Fair with Showman Charm

What makes the Maikirmes Duisdorf special: It's small enough that you don't have to wait long for rides, but large enough that children aged 3 and up have plenty to discover. The showmen have known many families from Hardtberg for years, the clientele is predominantly local, and the prices are moderate. A classic Rhenish fairground experience without the tourist crowds of the big Bonn summer festivals.