Mindener Herbstmesse

Minden – Hanseatic City on the Weser

Minden, with around 82,000 inhabitants, is one of the most traditional cities in Ostwestfalen and the district town of Kreis Minden-Lübbecke. The city is located in the western Weser bend, at the transition from the Wiehen Hills to the North German Plain. Landmarks include the Mindener Dom (a Romanesque hall church from the 11th century), the Waterways Cross (where the Mittelland Canal crosses the Weser), and the Schachtschleusenwerk (ship lift). Minden was a Hanseatic city, a Prussian fortress – and today it is an important economic and transport hub in Ostwestfalen.

Kanzlers Weide – The Traditional Festival Meadow

Kanzlers Weide is the traditional festival meadow on the western outskirts of Minden, within walking distance of the main train station and the city center. The large Minden Volksfeste take place here twice a year: the Pfingstmesse (Pentecost Fair) in spring and the Herbstmesse (Autumn Fair) in November. Both fairs are considered the largest Kirmes (funfairs) on the Weser – the number of showmen, the size of the rides, and the reach of the catchment area (Ostwestfalen-Lippe, Hanover, Schaumburg, Hameln) make them family highlights of the year.

Nine Days, Over 100 Showmen

The 2026 Autumn Fair runs from Saturday, November 7th, to Sunday, November 15th – nine days of Volksfest atmosphere. Over 100 showmen present their attractions: Ferris wheel, roller coaster, dodgems, Wellenflug (wave flyer ride), Free Fall Tower, classic carousels, haunted house, game stalls with shooting galleries and ring toss games. In addition, there is the gastronomic offer: beer tent with live music, bratwurst, fries, fried fish, crêpes, sweet stalls (gingerbread, cotton candy, almonds).

Family Day on Wednesday, November 11th

Family Day is an integral part of the Minden fairs – on this day, showmen offer reduced prices for rides and game stalls. Families with children use Wednesday during the autumn holidays for affordable family visits. Family Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, November 11th.

Fireworks on Friday, November 13th

The acoustic-visual highlight is the grand fireworks display on Friday, November 13th, 2026, around 8:30 PM. The fireworks will be launched over Kanzlers Weide and are visible from large parts of Minden's city center. Thousands of spectators gather on the fairgrounds, along the Weser riverbank, and in the surrounding squares to experience the spectacle.

Opening Hours

As with the preceding 2026 Pentecost Fair: Mon–Thu 3 PM–10 PM, Fri 3 PM–11 PM, Sat 2 PM–11 PM, Sun 2 PM–10 PM (tentative). Admission is free; individual rides and game stalls cost between €2 and €8 per ride or game.

Getting There and Tips

By car: A2 exit Bad Oeynhausen-Süd, then B65 to Minden. Paid parking around the fairgrounds. By train: Minden Hauptbahnhof (main station) (RE/IC from Hanover, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Hamburg), 10-minute walk to Kanzlers Weide. Those arriving from further afield should visit the Mindener Dom (5 minutes on foot), the Waterways Cross, or the Preußen-Museum (Prussia Museum) during the day.