Maikirmes Vohwinkel

Vohwinkel — Wuppertal's Western Gateway

If you head west in Wuppertal, you'll arrive in Vohwinkel, the westernmost district of Wuppertal. Vohwinkel has been part of the large Bergisch city since its incorporation in 1929, but it has retained its own character to this day: its own shopping street along Vohwinkeler Straße, its own club landscape, its own fair. With a good 30,000 inhabitants, the district would be a medium-sized district town — no wonder Vohwinkel organizes many things itself, from the shopping street advertising association to its own folk festival tradition.

Lienhardplatz as the Festival Site

The venue for the Maikirmes is Lienhardplatz, the central Vohwinkel event space in the heart of the district. During the year, it serves as a parking lot, market square, and occasional event area. Over May 1st, it transforms into the Vohwinkel fairground: carousels, Ferris wheel, dodgems, bratwurst stands, crêpe and gingerbread stalls, paired with shooting galleries and classic fairground games. The spatial limitation of the square creates a compact, clear fair atmosphere — you don't have to walk far between the rides.

Four Days Around May 1st

The Maikirmes 2026 runs from Friday, May 1st (Labour Day) to Monday, May 4th. May 1st is a public holiday — a perfect opening day, as everyone has the day off. Saturday is a classic family day with high visitor numbers, as is Sunday. Monday is traditionally a cheaper family day with discounts on ride prices — the ideal day for families on a tight budget.

The Wuppertal Fair Calendar

The Maikirmes Vohwinkel is part of a dense Wuppertal fair calendar that runs from spring to autumn. Wuppertaler Schausteller e.V. organizes several district fairs throughout the year: Berliner Platz in March, Vohwinkel in May, with further dates in Heckinghausen, Elberfeld, and Cronenberg. These district fairs are the genuine heritage of Wuppertal's folk festival culture — small-scale, family-friendly folk festivals that bring a district together, rather than a single mega-event.

Family Fair with Bergisch Character

The Maikirmes Vohwinkel is an explicitly family-oriented fair: not a major event for partygoers, but a district festival where parents with small children mingle with youth groups or pensioner regulars' tables. Most visitors come from Vohwinkel itself, from the surrounding districts, and from neighboring areas of Solingen and Haan. Those looking for a quiet, traditional Bergisch folk festival atmosphere, without the Crange-style mega-fair, will find the right place here.

Getting There and Tips

Vohwinkel is easily accessible via the S-Bahn S8 — Wuppertal-Vohwinkel station is the direct terminus of the Schwebebahn and also an S-Bahn stop with connections to Düsseldorf and Hagen. Lienhardplatz is just a few minutes' walk from the station. Those arriving by car should check surrounding residential streets for parking — direct access to Lienhardplatz is closed during the fair.