Pfingstkirmes Gütersloh

Pentecost in Gütersloh — the city celebrates its funfair

The Gütersloh Pfingstkirmes is one of the traditional folk festivals of Ostwestfalen-Lippe. Throughout the entire Pentecost weekend, the city center — especially Marktplatz, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße, and Bismarckstraße — transforms into an open amusement mile. Showmen from all over West Germany travel with their rides; the city's appearance changes completely for four days. Anyone living in Gütersloh or visiting OWL during Pentecost cannot miss this funfair.

When: Friday, May 22nd to Monday, May 25th, 2026

The funfair runs on the Pentecost weekend 2026:

• Friday, May 22nd, 2026: 2:00 PM–11:00 PM (official opening 3:00 PM)
• Saturday, May 23rd, 2026: 2:00 PM–11:00 PM
• Sunday, May 24th, 2026 (Pentecost Sunday): 2:00 PM–11:00 PM
• Monday, May 25th, 2026 (Pentecost Monday): 2:00 PM–11:00 PM (dismantling day — last day)

Opening with Three Cannon Shots — Friday 3:00 PM

The official opening on Friday at 3:00 PM is the ritualistic highlight: The mayor or an official city representative fires three cannon shots — the signal for the start of the funfair. Afterwards, all rides operate with free rides for 15 minutes — a traditional gesture to regular visitors and families.

Pentecost Fireworks on Friday Evening

The highlight of the opening evening is the grand fireworks display on Friday evening over the city center. Best viewing spots are around the market square and along Bismarckstraße. The fireworks last several minutes and are visible throughout the entire Gütersloh center.

Rides and Attractions

Over two dozen rides are spread across the funfair grounds — from classics to high-performance attractions:

• Ferris wheel — view over Gütersloh's city center
• Roller coaster with loops and fast turns
• Dodgems — the traditional classic
• High-thrill rides — Big Swing, pendulum swing, chain carousel
• Climbing wall simulator for active visitors
• Children's section — children's carousels, carousel horses, mini roller coaster
• Shooting galleries, lottery stalls, candy stands

The largest showman operators for years have been Schneider (two large rides), Krameyer, Fehlauer, and Schäfer.

Cuisine — from Crêpes to Currywurst

Classic funfair fare: Bratwurst, fries, Currywurst, roasted almonds, gingerbread hearts, cotton candy, crêpes, chocolate-covered fruits, potato pancakes. Drink stands serve Pilsner, mulled wine (still popular in the evening even in May), and non-alcoholic beverages. Those who get hungry will find Gütersloh's restaurants around the market square.

Gütersloh — the OWL medium-sized city with Bertelsmann and Miele

Gütersloh, with around 100,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in the Gütersloh district and an important industrial city in southern Ostwestfalen-Lippe. Known for corporate headquarters (Bertelsmann, Miele), a green city center, Mohnsche Park, and the Stadthalle. The Pfingstkirmes brings together regular Gütersloh visitors, families from surrounding communities (Verl, Rietberg, Halle, Steinhagen), and day-trippers from Bielefeld and Paderborn.

Getting There and Parking

Gütersloh main train station is a 10-minute walk from the market square — direct ICE/IC connections from Hanover and Cologne, RE from Bielefeld/Paderborn. By car: A2 exit Gütersloh or Rheda-Wiedenbrück. Parking is available in city center parking garages (Parkhaus Berliner Straße, Parkhaus Daltrop) and on the outskirts. For the main evenings (Friday, Saturday), public transport is recommended, as the city center streets around the market square are partially closed.