Stiepeler Fliegenkirmes

Stiepel — Bochum's Village South

If you travel south in Bochum, beyond the Ruhr University, you'll reach the district of Stiepel — one of Bochum's more upscale addresses with a village character, plenty of greenery, and the Ruhr valley in sight. With a good 17,000 inhabitants, Stiepel is an upscale residential district with its own historical identity — and it's precisely here that one of the oldest churches in the Ruhr area stands: the Stiepel village church, a Romanesque chapel from the 11th century, dating back to the year 1008.

Over 1,000 Years of Kirmes — Record Tradition

The Fliegenkirmes is one of the oldest Kirmes festivals in Germany. Its history dates back to the early 11th century — the 1,011th edition in 2026 marks over a thousand years of unbroken Kirmes tradition. Originally, the area around the village church was a cattle market where farmers from the surrounding area traded their livestock. With the cattle trade came the flies — hence the now curious name Fliegenkirmes. All that remains of the cattle market is the small animal and pedigree poultry exhibition, a living legacy of the original market function.

Four Days of Festival Operations 2026

The Fliegenkirmes 2026 runs from Friday, September 25th to Monday, September 28th. Opening hours vary:

• Friday: 4 PM to midnight — Opening in the late afternoon
• Saturday: 11 AM to midnight — Full festival operations, traditional beer tapping, opening of the small animal market
• Sunday: 2 PM to 10 PM — Family afternoon with high attendance
• Monday: 2 PM to 11 PM — Big family day with closing fireworks in the evening

Around the Village Church — The Historic Setting

The festival grounds are located around the Stiepel village church, one of the oldest churches in Westphalia. Rides, stalls, and the stage are located along Brockhauser Straße and Nettelbeckstraße — residential streets that are closed for the Kirmes days. This backdrop of historic sacred architecture and illuminated fairground rides defines the special character of the Fliegenkirmes. Those who want to experience church romance and folk festival excitement simultaneously will find it here.

Beer Tapping and Small Animal Exhibition

The beer tapping on Saturday officially opens the main festival — at the same time, the small animal market of the Phönix Stiepel pedigree poultry association opens. The exhibition features pedigree poultry, pigeons, rabbits, and ornamental birds from regional breeders — a magnet for animal lovers and families. The Phönix Stiepel association thus preserves the traditional heritage of the Fliegenkirmes as a former cattle market.

Rides, Stalls, Closing Fireworks

The Fliegenkirmes brings together classic fairground attractions: carousels for small children, bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, game stalls, shooting galleries, and skill games. The food selection ranges from bratwurst, fries, and potato pancakes to crêpes, gingerbread, chocolate-covered fruits, and candied almonds. The highlight on Monday evening is the closing fireworks display, which bathes the festival grounds in colorful light.

Getting There and Tips

Stiepel is located in southern Bochum and is accessible by bus line 350 (Bochum Hbf – Hattingen) — stop Stiepel Dorf. By car: A43 exit Bochum-Stiepel, parking in the surrounding residential streets (limited). Tip: Prefer public transport, especially on Saturday and Monday.