37th Wülfrath Potato Festival

Potatoes, Funfair, and NDW – the Town Festival in Wülfrath

In Wülfrath, a town in the Niederberg region, one of the smaller towns in the Mettmann district, the Kartoffelfest (Potato Festival) takes place every September. What began decades ago as a small neighborhood festival is now, in its 37th edition in 2026, the town's most important city festival – a magnet that attracts thousands of visitors from the Mettmann district, the Bergisches Land region, and eastern Düsseldorf. The motto changes annually: in 2026, it is 'Neue Deutsche Welle', the pop and punk movement of the early 1980s.

Wülfrath – A Town with Bergisch Character

Wülfrath is a medium-sized town in the Niederberg region between Wuppertal, Velbert, and Mettmann, with just under 22,000 inhabitants. The city center around Wilhelmstraße, Schwanenstraße, and Goethestraße is manageable – ideal for a town festival that can be explored completely in a day. The Kartoffelfest has been established since the early 1990s and is a classic Wülfrath pro project: organized by the local advertising and business association.

NDW Motto 2026 – Nena, Falco, and the Schlager Wave

With the NDW motto, the 2026 Potato Festival gains special momentum: Cover bands on the stages will play hits by Nena ('99 Luftballons'), Trio ('Da Da Da'), Markus ('Ich will Spaß'), Hubert Kah, Falco, and other NDW stars. Decorations and the cityscape will reflect the aesthetics of the early 1980s – bright colors, pastels, synthesizer sounds.

Potato Soup as a Wülfrath Tradition

Despite changing mottos, one thing remains constant: the potato soup from the Wülfrath Stadtwerke (municipal utility company). The municipal utility company produces hundreds of liters of potato soup annually, with proceeds going to charitable causes in Wülfrath. In addition, there is classic town festival cuisine: fries, bratwurst, potato pancakes (Reibekuchen), crêpes, local beer from the Wülfrath brewery, and wine from the local wine merchant.

Sunday Shopping and Wülfrath Retailers

The highlight of the festival weekend is the Sunday shopping on September 27th, 2026. Shops in the city center will open outside of regular Sunday hours – an important day for Wülfrath retailers. Combined with the hustle and bustle of the Potato Festival, it creates a city center experience that is unique in everyday life.

Family Program and Showmen

For children, there are carousels, games, a potato scavenger hunt, and craft activities – the Potato Festival is explicitly family-oriented. The stage will feature a mix of NDW cover bands and children's shows.

Worth the Trip, Even from the Bergisches Region

Wülfrath is conveniently located in the Niederberg region. The town is reachable from Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, or Velbert in 20–30 minutes. The Potato Festival is one of the most charming town festivals in the region – small enough for a family atmosphere, large enough for a full weekend.