Pirate Festival in Maximilianpark Hamm

Pirate Festival in Maxipark — The Park Becomes a Robber's Lair

Looking for a family festival where the kids fall asleep in the car, exhausted but happy? Then the Pirate Festival in Maximilianpark Hamm is the place for you. On one summer Sunday afternoon, the sprawling grounds of Maxipark turn into an adventure land for little pirates — and adults are welcome too. Four hours of open-air entertainment, nestled in one of Westphalia's most beautiful parks.

What Happens at the Pirate Festival?

The entire park area is dotted with stations offering genuine pirate content: treasure hunts with maps and clues leading through the park, saber fights under the supervision of trained stunt professionals, theatrical mini-performances in the style of "Pirates of the Caribbean" — child-friendly versions, but visually elaborate. There are also craft stations where little pirates can create hats, eye patches, or treasure chests, and a "walk the plank" over an inflatable floor that simulates the feeling of being on a ship.

Maximilianpark as a Backdrop

Maxipark originated in 1984 from the grounds of the former Maximilian colliery and is part of the Route of Industrial Heritage. Spanning 22 hectares, it features themed gardens, a butterfly house, the distinctive Glass Elephant landmark (a walk-in sculpture by artist Horst Rellecke), and several playgrounds integrated into the Pirate Festival. The mix of historical industrial architecture and blooming gardens provides the most unusual festival backdrop you can find in Hamm.

Who's Behind It?

The organizer is Maximilianpark Hamm GmbH, a subsidiary of the City of Hamm. The Pirate Festival is part of the park's series of recurring annual themed festivals, alongside the Kite Festival in September, the International Maxi Kite Trophy, and various concert formats. The event planning focuses on an accessible entry fee — park admission covers all activities.

Hamm and the Eastern Ruhr Area

Hamm is an independent city in the eastern Ruhr area, in the administrative district of Arnsberg, North Rhine-Westphalia. With around 180,000 inhabitants, it's one of NRW's larger medium-sized cities, characterized by its railway (large marshalling yard), the Lippe floodplains, and former collieries. Maxipark is the city's most important green space and one of NRW's most visited themed parks outside of amusement parks.