Meckenheim Culture Days

Five Weeks of Cultural Marathon

The Meckenheim Culture Days are not a classic festival, but a five-week cultural circuit through a town of 25,000 inhabitants in the Rhein-Sieg district. From May 25 to June 30, 2026, Meckenheim will transform into a small cultural capital. Six cultural and educational associations — the Citizens' Association, the Heritage Association, the Seniors' Forum, the Reading Promotion Association, the Obere Mühle Support Association, and the City Museum — are joining forces with the city administration to curate a dense program.

Kick-off on Mill Day, Finale at the Church of Peace

The 26th edition opens on Whit Monday, May 25, 2026 at 11 a.m. with the German Mill Day at the Obere Mühle — one of the region's most beautiful industrial monuments. The closing event will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 7 p.m. in the Friedenskirche: a concert by the newly named youth choir „The Soundside“ (formerly Jugendkantorei).

Theatre, Exhibitions, Readings — The Centrepiece

Between these two milestones, a broad program unfolds:

• Theater XXL by KAG — June 3–6, 2026 — modern adaptation of the classic comedy by Aristophanes
• Exhibition BEGEGNUNGEN — June 4–7, 2026 — sculptures, paintings, and drawings by the artist group BEGEGNUNGEN at Burg Altendorf
• Exhibition “Schmelztiegel” — June 1–30, 2026 — wax paintings, bronze sculptures, and experimental mixed media
• Historical and mill-related cycling tours through the region
• Art history lectures, author readings, and concerts

Meckenheim — A Town Between Bonn and the Eifel

Meckenheim is located in the Rhein-Sieg district, about 20 kilometers southwest of Bonn, at the transition from the Voreifel to the Vorgebirge. The town is nationally known for its fruit cultivation (Meckenheim is one of Germany's largest apple and sweet cherry growing regions) and for the BKA (Federal Criminal Police Office), which maintains its second headquarters here. Culturally, the Obere Mühle, a restored mill building with an event space, significantly shapes the cityscape.

Admission Mostly Free, Supported by Volunteers

Characteristic of the Culture Days: Most events are free of charge, with donations gratefully accepted. The program is the result of coordinated volunteer work — the participating associations jointly contribute spaces, programming, and attention over the five weeks.