Osterkirmes Bochum

Spring Funfair in the Ruhr Area

The Osterkirmes Bochum is the city's annual spring Volksfest (traditional funfair) tradition in the heart of the Ruhr area. On the large fairgrounds on Castroper Straße, Bochum transforms into an amusement park for nine days with classic fairground rides, food stalls, and a mix of tradition and modern attractions.

Dates and Opening Hours 2026

Nine days of funfair from Saturday, April 4 to Sunday, April 12, 2026. Opening hours daily from 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM. In 2026, the funfair takes place before Easter; the fairgrounds will be open on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Classic Rides

The 2026 ride program is a mix of modern and nostalgic attractions:

• Hully Gully — the nostalgic carousel, one of the few remaining Bochum Hully-Gully versions
• Kinder-Riesenrad (Children's Ferris Wheel) — a smaller version of the classic Ferris wheel, for families
• Bumper Cars „Formel Fun“ — bumper cars with a Formula 1 look
• Kettenkarussell (Chain Carousel) — the classic for those resistant to dizziness
• Other carousels, shooting galleries, lottery stalls, candy stands, classic food trucks

Easter Monday — Easter Bunny Promotion

The highlight for families is Easter Monday, April 6, 2026: The "Easter Bunny" will distribute small gifts and hide sweets throughout the fairgrounds. On the opening day (Saturday, April 4), a showman's opening competition with 180 hidden eggs had already taken place — children were allowed to search, and one lucky winner, according to organizer Andreas Petter, found "30 to 40 eggs.".

Family Day on Wednesday

A classic at Ruhr area funfairs: Family Day on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Many rides and food stalls offer special discounts and reduced prices — particularly attractive for families with children.

Traditional City Festival

Organizer Andreas Petter and the Bochum Showmen's Association emphasize the preservation of the Volksfest tradition: The Osterkirmes is important "to strengthen the bond between showmen and regular Bochum guests." Families from Bochum and the region have been coming to Castroper Straße for generations.

Bochum and Castroper Straße

Bochum, with around 365,000 inhabitants, is the second-largest city in the Ruhr area and an important central hub (university, theater, music scene). Castroper Straße in the northeast of the city has a permanent fairground that hosts funfair events several times a year — in addition to the Osterkirmes, there is also an autumn funfair and smaller events.