Pfingstmarkt KulturGarten — Kulturkirche Heilig Kreuz

Pentecost in Bottrop Goes Green

Pentecost 2026 sees a new format in Bottrop: The Pfingstmarkt KulturGarten is the premiere edition of an event concept establishing the Kulturkirche Heilig Kreuz in Bottrop-Stadtmitte as a venue. From Pentecost Saturday to Monday (May 23rd to 25th, 2026), the former parish church on Scharnhölzstraße will become the stage for a garden and culture market—an idea well-known in NRW, particularly in the context of castles and monasteries, but novel in a former parish church.

What You'll Find — Garden, Market, Art

The exhibitor list aims for high quality without pomp:

• Perennials, plants, flowers — Specialist nurseries from the Ruhr area and Niederrhein, featuring hydrangeas, roses, Mediterranean varieties, and wild herbs
• Fragrant herbs for pots and the kitchen
• Arts and crafts — Ceramics, jewelry, glass, wood
• Regional products — Jams, honey, liqueurs, cheese from Münsterland and Niederrhein
• Fashion and accessories from small manufactories
• Gastro stands with coffee, cake, and savory specialties

The Cultural Program

Unlike pure garden markets, the cultural component is central here: live music in the church interior, short readings, children's activities with crafting sessions, and (typical for the Kulturkirche) encounters with regional artists. The program will be published on kulturkirche-heiligkreuz.de in the weeks leading up to Pentecost 2026.

Kulturkirche Heilig Kreuz — A Place with a Mission

The Heilig-Kreuz-Kirche on Scharnhölzstraße was repurposed as a Kulturkirche (culture church) a few years ago after years of discussion — a response to declining church attendance and the need for a central cultural venue in Bottrop-Stadtmitte. Concerts, exhibitions, theater performances, and readings have been held there since. With the Pfingstmarkt KulturGarten, the supporting association is expanding its profile with a new summer format.

Admission — and the Preservation Aspect

The admission fee of €5 per person goes entirely towards church preservation. This is intentional: the association finances part of the renovation and operating costs of the historic building structure with every event. Visitors to the Pfingstmarkt thus contribute directly to securing the Kulturkirche — an aspect of commitment that sets the format apart from pure consumerism.