26. Stadtfest Olpe — Olpe celebrates under the Linden trees

Olpe celebrates under the Linden trees — 26 years of Stadtfest

The Stadtfest Olpe is a fixture in the event calendar of the South Westphalian Sauerland region. From May 15th to 17th, 2026, the town will celebrate its 26th edition under the traditional motto "Olpe feiert unter den Linden" (Olpe celebrates under the Linden trees) — an allusion to the linden trees that characterize the central market street and provide shade for the festival grounds. Three days of festival weekend, around 150 stalls, several stages, and a packed music program.

What awaits you

The Stadtfest is a classic Westphalian Volksfest (folk festival) with all the trimmings:

• Around 150 stalls — food, drinks, handicrafts, clubs, local producers
• Several stages with live music — cover bands, local musicians, from Schlager to Rock
• Children's program — children's stage, hands-on activities, small amusement rides
• Club stalls — showcasing Olpe's club scene
• Gastronomy — specialties from South Westphalian cuisine and international dishes

Olpe — the district town on the Biggesee

Olpe is the district town of the Olpe district in South Westphalia, located on the Biggesee reservoir. The town, with around 25,000 inhabitants, is situated in the highlands of the Sauerland region — between the Cologne-Bonn area and the Siegerland and Sauerland regions to the east. It is predominantly Catholic, with the baroque St. Martinus parish church as its landmark. The Biggesee, a reservoir on the Bigge river, makes Olpe a destination for water sports and recreation — and the Stadtfest a welcome break between spring and summer.

Stages, Bands, Sunday Shopping

The musical program is spread across several stages — centrally located on the market square and at other venues in the city center. Cover bands, local acts, and Schlager, pop, and rock programs alternate. The exact band lineup for 2026 is documented in the program flyer on stadtfest-olpe.de. On Sunday, the Stadtfest traditionally combines with Sunday shopping — Olpe's shops open their doors, and the Stadtfest heads into its weekend finale.

Three days of city DNA

The Stadtfest is more than just a folk festival. It's the moment when Olpe showcases its identity as a compact, down-to-earth district town. Clubs, church communities, sports teams, initiatives — they all have their stalls here. Anyone strolling through Olpe's city center on the weekend gets a crash course in local society — an experience you won't find at any big city festival. Admission is free, making the Stadtfest a must-attend event for families from the region.