Refrath Cherry Blossom Festival

Refrath — Bergisch Gladbach's Southern District

If you're in southern Bergisch Gladbach, on the border with Köln-Rath, you'll come to Refrath. With a good 14,000 inhabitants, Refrath is one of the largest and most popular districts of the Rheinisch-Bergischer district town. Refrath has its own character: a grown retail structure, its own gastronomy, its own club landscape, and with Peter-Bürling-Platz, a central marketplace that serves as an event area several times a year.

Peter-Bürling-Platz — the Festival Site in the Centre

The venue for the Cherry Blossom Festival is Peter-Bürling-Platz, the central Refrath area right in the heart of the district, surrounded by shops, cafés, and restaurants. The square is named after the former mayor of Bergisch Gladbach and is the natural stage for district festivals, markets, and cultural activities in Refrath. During the Cherry Blossom Festival, a stage, beer stands, food stalls, and play areas will be set up on the square.

Three Days of Spring Festival 2026

The 2026 Cherry Blossom Festival runs from Friday, May 15th to Sunday, May 17th, with road closures starting Thursday at 6:00 PM. Opening hours:

• Friday: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM — After-work kickoff
• Saturday: 11:00 AM – 10:00 PM — Full operation
• Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM — Family day with Sunday shopping

Live Music — King Loui Band, DÜX, Soul 7

Local and regional cover bands will perform on the festival stage. King Loui Band plays rock classics, DÜX plays pop and indie, Soul 7 plays funk and soul. In addition, there will be live performances by regional dance groups and orchestras from Refrath and Bergisch Gladbach. The program is aimed at a broad audience: families during the day, young adults in the evening, all age groups on the weekend.

Gastronomy, Street Food, and Children's Program

The gastronomy includes classic sausage and fries stands, street food trucks with international selections, cocktail bars, and wine service. Refrath restaurants and cafés will offer special menus in their premises. For children, there are children's activities such as carousels, craft stalls, face painting, and play areas — the family character is explicitly part of the program.

Raffle for Herzenswünsche e.V.

A special feature is the raffle for the benefit of Herzenswünsche e.V. The association fulfills the wishes of seriously ill children and adolescents. Raffle tickets will be sold during the festival, and the proceeds will go entirely to the association's work. This gives the spring festival a social dimension that has already raised considerable sums in previous years.

Sunday Shopping in Refrath

On Sunday, May 17th, shops in Refrath will be open. Shops, boutiques, cafés, and restaurants will open their doors with special promotions — making Sunday a double occasion: festival visit on Peter-Bürling-Platz plus a shopping stroll through Refrath's main street. This combination makes the Cherry Blossom Festival one of the most visited events in Refrath's calendar.

IG Refrath as Organizer

The festival is organized by IG Refrath, the district's interest and advertising group. IG brings together Refrath retailers, restaurateurs, and service providers, organizes several district festivals a year (Spring Festival, Autumn Festival, Advent Market), and represents the interests of Refrath's business community to the city of Bergisch Gladbach. The Cherry Blossom Festival is their spring highlight and at the same time their most important marketing platform for Refrath's business landscape.