Sterkrade Corpus Christi Funfair

Largest Volksfest in Oberhausen

The Sterkrade Corpus Christi Funfair is the largest Volksfest in Oberhausen and one of the biggest funfair events in the western Ruhr area. It has been held annually around the Catholic holiday of Corpus Christi since 1829. In 2026, it will run from Wednesday, June 3rd, to Sunday, June 8th — six days of Volksfest in the Oberhausen district of Sterkrade.

2.5 km Funfair Mile

Characteristic of the Sterkrade Funfair is its elongated funfair mile: over approximately 2.5 kilometers, rides, food stalls, shooting galleries, candy stalls, beer tents, and live stages stretch through the Sterkrade town center. More than 380 showmen are involved, including 23 major attractions — roller coasters, Ferris wheels, free-fall towers, carousels of all sizes. This makes the Sterkrade Funfair one of the largest showman-run funfairs in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Seven Novelties for 2026

For the 2026 edition, the funfair brings seven novelties — rides that are new in this form at the Sterkrade Funfair: Invader, The Beast, Chaos Pendel, Fortress Tower, and three other major attractions. The organizer is clearly committed to the promise of offering new experiences every year — a strategy that has positioned the Sterkrade Funfair as a "trend funfair" for decades.

Opening with Keg Tapping

The official opening will take place on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026, at 5:00 PM — with the traditional keg tapping by Lord Mayor Thorsten Berg. It is the "ritual" start that opens the six-day Volksfest week. In previous years, thousands of Sterkrade residents and visitors from the Ruhr area attended the opening.

Tradition Since 1829

The Sterkrade Corpus Christi Funfair is one of the oldest continuously held funfairs in West Germany — it has been running since 1829, in reference to the Catholic high holiday of Corpus Christi. The funfair dates are based on this movable feast day, which falls 60 days after Easter each year. Over almost 200 years, the event has evolved from a regional farmers' market to a large Volksfest.

Sterkrade as a Volksfest Location

Sterkrade, with around 80,000 inhabitants, is one of Oberhausen's three districts (alongside Oberhausen-Alt and Osterfeld) and has a distinct identity. With the funfair, the district positions itself each year as a central event location in the northern Ruhr area. The air smells — as the organizer itself says — of "freshly roasted almonds," and the main streets become a festival mile.