Osterkirmes Marl-Hüls

Marl — Industrial City in Vest Recklinghausen

Marl, with around 84,000 inhabitants, is a city in the district of Recklinghausen (Münster administrative region), located on the northern edge of the Ruhr area in Vest Recklinghausen. Characterized by the Marl chemical site (formerly Chemische Werke Hüls AG, now Evonik) and a diverse district culture. The Hüls district, with its traditional market square, hosts a folk fair twice a year — the Osterkirmes and the Pfingstkirmes (Pentecost fair).

Hüls Market Square — Venue for Decades

The market square of Marl-Hüls has been the event center of the district for generations. Weekly markets, club events, and folk festivals share the space. For the Osterkirmes, it is completely transformed into a landscape of stalls and rides for four days: the action is concentrated in a small space, which creates the typical atmosphere of a district fair.

2026 Program — Around 25 Attractions

Organizer and showman spokesperson Joachim Schirrmeister-Drews is bringing around 25 rides and stalls to Hüls Market Square in 2026. The focus is on the classics: Crazy Dancer (Freiwald), Kesseltanz (Reminder), Millennium Drive (Quante), and the Musik Express (Reminder) — rides that have a regular clientele in NRW.

2026 Highlight — Breakdancer Returns

The big headline: after 10 years of absence, the Breakdancer is returning to Marl-Hüls. This whirling action ride was the epitome of fairground thrills in the 1990s and 2000s and was enthusiastically cheered by a whole generation in Hüls. The return in 2026 is a nod to tradition — and an attraction for families who want to show their children "something like the old days".

Food and Atmosphere

Around the rides, you'll find the classic snack stands: Bratwurst, fries, almonds, gingerbread hearts, cotton candy, crepes, and of course beer and mulled wine stands. The atmosphere is familiar and popular — not a glamorous major event, but a district folk fair with its regular guests from Marl, Recklinghausen, and Datteln.

Osterkirmes Tradition

Folk fairs at Easter have a tradition in NRW — the Easter weekend with Good Friday and Easter Monday offers four consecutive days when families have time. The Osterkirmes Marl-Hüls is one of the larger district fairs in the northern Ruhr area. Those looking for a similar atmosphere can also find it at the Osterkirmes in Recklinghausen or the many district fairs in the Vest.