Sommerfest Kettwig

Kettwig — Essen's southernmost district

Kettwig is located on the southern edge of Essen, directly on the Ruhr river, and has retained its small-town character with a historic old town, half-timbered houses, and a close connection to the water. Kettwig was an independent town until 1975, after which it was incorporated into Essen – to this day, many Kettwig residents feel more like "Kettwigers" than "Essners". This strong district identity is fostered by active club life and the Aktionsgemeinschaft AGIL, which organizes the Sommerfest, the Brunnenfest, and Rocktober.

Three squares, three days

The Sommerfest takes place on three central squares in Kettwig's town center: the Marktplatz (central main stage), the Bürgermeister-Fiedler-Platz (wine garden and upscale gastronomy), and the Märchenbrunnenplatz (children's program and arts and crafts). The stalls are spread throughout the pedestrian zone, and the atmosphere changes from square to square – from the bustling main square with a live band to the relaxed wine garden atmosphere on Fiedler-Platz.

Live music and wine garden

The musical program is spread across all three days and all stages. Cover bands, acoustic acts, and regional groups will perform – the exact band schedule will be published in spring 2026. The wine garden on Bürgermeister-Fiedler-Platz is popular, where "die Weinfrau" and "der Wassermann" (a winery from the region) serve regional wines and sparkling wine, along with cheese and antipasti platters. There will also be food trucks with international cuisine and classic Kettwig snack stands.

Family and children's program

The family program is concentrated on the Märchenbrunnenplatz during the day: craft activities, a wheel of fortune, face painting, small carousels, and pony rides turn the square into a family zone. Local clubs and kindergartens have their own stands. Sunday is Family Day with a special focus on children's entertainment.

AGIL — the action community

AGIL Kettwig is the initiative of Kettwig's business people and clubs, which has been supporting the district's central events for years: the Sommerfest in July, the Brunnenfest in September, and Rocktober in October. Supported by sponsors and voluntary work, without public funds, AGIL is an example of active community engagement. Admission to all festivals is always free.

Getting to Kettwig

By car via the A 52 or B 227 (Kettwiger Straße); parking around the town center (Parkhaus Markt, Promenade). By train: S-Bahn line S 6 between Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Essen, stop Essen-Kettwig – about a 5-minute walk from the station to the market square. Approx. 20 minutes by S-Bahn from Essen Hbf. On warm days, it's a perfect Sunday excursion to the Ruhr riverbank.