Schmachtendorfer Kröößkärmes 2026

Schmachtendorf — Village in Northern Oberhausen

Schmachtendorf is located in the far north of Oberhausen, in the Sterkrade borough, bordering Bottrop and Kirchhellen. Despite being incorporated in 1929, the village has retained its distinct rural character, with farms, riding stables, its own church community, and vibrant club life. The backbone of this community is the Schmachtendorfer Interessengemeinschaft, which organizes numerous events throughout the year: after-work markets, wine street, Oktoberfest — and, most importantly, the annual Kröößkärmes in September, one of the oldest funfairs in the entire Ruhr area.

Over 200 Years of History

The origins of the Kröößkärmes date back to the early 19th century. At that time, Schmachtendorf was still an independent farming village on the outskirts of the burgeoning industrial city of Oberhausen, and the funfair served as a harvest festival for the farming population. It bears the name "Krööß" or "Kröößkärmes" after the Low German term for a traditional apple-plum compote specialty, which was prepared from freshly harvested fruits and served at the festival during the funfair season. Today, the Krööß compote is a specialty of remembrance — the name has remained, making the Schmachtendorf funfair one of the most uniquely named Volksfeste in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Historic Rides and Fireworks

Unlike the large city funfair events (Cranger Kirmes, Düsseldorfer Rheinkirmes), Schmachtendorf consciously focuses on classic, historic rides: a nostalgic bumper car ride, a classic chain carousel, small carousels for the youngest visitors, traditional shooting galleries, and prize stalls. The special highlight: the traditional fireworks on the opening evening, which illuminate the sky over northern Oberhausen around 9:00 PM — a tradition cherished for generations.

Sunday Shopping — The Highlight on September 13th

The highlight in 2026 is the Sunday shopping event on September 13th from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Shops in the center of Schmachtendorf open their doors concurrently with the funfair activities, and the entire district transforms into a long boulevard of stalls, shops, and social gatherings. Families from the surrounding area, long-time regular visitors, and people from northern Ruhrgebiet specifically come to Schmachtendorf on Sundays — the combination of a funfair and a shopping Sunday has become rare in the Ruhr area.

Wine Street and Oktoberfest — Accompanying Events

Around the funfair, the Schmachtendorfer Interessengemeinschaft organizes additional events: The Weinstraße (Wine Street) brings together various wine taverns from German wine regions — Mosel, Pfalz, Baden, Rheinhessen — in a long row along the town center. Those who prefer beer can visit the early Schmachtendorf Oktoberfest with brass music, Maß (liter) beer service, Bavarian specialties, and a festival tent atmosphere — a variation that has become widespread in the Ruhr area and takes place as early as September.

A True Village Funfair in the Middle of the Big City

What sets the Kröößkärmes apart from the large Ruhr area folk festivals is its village festival character: most visitors know each other, admission to the funfair is free, the atmosphere is family-friendly, beer prices are moderate, and organization is handled voluntarily by the Schmachtendorf clubs. A rare constellation in the densely populated Ruhr metropolitan region.

Getting There and Practical Information

Car: A3 motorway, exit Oberhausen-Holten, then follow signs for Schmachtendorf. Public Transport: Bus lines from Sterkrade and Bottrop stop at several stations in Schmachtendorf. Parking in the town center is limited — if possible, arrive by bus or walk from surrounding districts.