Sonnenblumenfest Kupferdreh (with Kirmes)

40 Years of Sonnenblumenfest in Kupferdreh

The Sonnenblumenfest in Essen-Kupferdreh has been organized by the Werbegemeinschaft Essen-Kupferdreh since 1986 and is one of the longest-running district festivals in the city of Essen. In 2026, the event celebrates its 40th edition — a jubilee that seamlessly fits into the series of traditional Volksfeste (public festivals) of the Ruhr area.

Location: Kupferdreher Straße and Benderpark

The venues are Kupferdreher Straße — the central shopping street of the district — and the adjacent Benderpark. For three days, the organizers will fill both areas with stalls, stages, rides, and food stands. The parallel Kirmes (funfair) is part of the festival and complements the district festival with classic funfair elements.

Program Components

• Live music on the festival stage — bands from the Ruhr area cover rock, pop, and party music
• Sunday shopping 1 PM–6 PM — Kupferdreh shops open their doors
• Children's flea market — one of the most popular program items, organized for and by children
• Diverse food offerings with Westphalian classics and international specialties
• Rides and game stalls of the Kirmes (funfair)
• Stalls from local clubs and initiatives

Werbegemeinschaft Essen-Kupferdreh

The organizer of the festival is the Werbegemeinschaft Essen-Kupferdreh — the association of Kupferdreh retailers and restaurateurs, which organizes the event annually. The Werbegemeinschaft also manages a district portal (kupferdreh.com), where residents and business owners can submit event information.

Kupferdreh in Essen's East

Kupferdreh is located in the southeast of Essen — nestled in the Ruhr valley on the border with the Niederbergisches Land region. With its location on the Baldeneysee lake and at the transition from the Ruhr area to the wooded hills of the Bergisches Land, Kupferdreh is one of Essen's most idyllic districts. The Sonnenblumenfest makes this DNA — tradition, district identity, proximity to nature — audible and visible over three days.