Monheimer Stadtfest — Ganz schön frech

A City in Transition Celebrates Itself

Monheim am Rhein, with a good 44,000 inhabitants located between Düsseldorf and Cologne, has made a name for itself in recent years as an economically successful medium-sized city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and in the Mettmann district. The city festival, held every two years, is an expression of this self-confidence – an event that is not aimed at tourists, but at the people of Monheim themselves and their neighbors from Langenfeld, Leverkusen, and Düsseldorf.

Motto 2026: Ganz schön frech

The motto of the 15th edition captures the Monheim spirit. "Ganz schön frech" – it plays with the urban self-image, with the city's surprising presence in the region, and with the mischief inherent in the history of main streets like Krischerstraße. The festival is organized by the City of Monheim am Rhein together with the Monheim Mitte association and a variety of local actors.

Two Stages, Many Locations

The main stage is located on the Rathausplatz, which becomes "Schelmenplatz" (Rascal Square) for the weekend. The live music program runs on the open-air stage until late in the evening; confetti cannons, a scream barometer, and interactive stations are found around the square. A second stage – the Eierplatz, curated by Monheimer Kulturwerke – offers its own program of pop, rock, cover bands, and solo acts on Saturday and Sunday. In addition, there is the musical action area on Heinestraße (organized by Sojus 7) and the magical arena on Ernst-Reuter-Platz with storytelling theater, vaulting, and a bird of prey flight show.

Gänseliesel — Monheim's Symbol Figure

The central reference point is and remains the Gänseliesel (Goose Girl), Monheim's famous landmark near the town hall. The city festival combines two events centered around this figure:

• The Gänseliesellauf (Goose Girl Run) on Friday afternoon – five different races in various age groups, from Bambini to 10 km, in its 40th edition in 2026
• The Gänselieselmarkt (Goose Girl Market) on Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm – a huge flea market through the old town with over 200 stalls, sought after by bargain hunters from all over the Rhineland hours before it begins

Interactive Festival Instead of Consumer Fest

A hallmark of the Monheim City Festival is the density of free interactive activities: over 60 program items, often supported by local clubs – giant board games, face painting, bouncy castles, fitness challenges, city bets, town hall rallies, club mile. The focus is deliberately on activity rather than commerce, which also makes the festival attractive for families. On Sunday, the open shopping day complements the program: shops open from 1 pm.