Geldern Whitsun Fair

The Geldern Whitsun Fair has established itself over decades as an integral part of regional culture on the Lower Rhine. Every year at Whitsun, Geldern is transformed for four days - from Saturday to Tuesday - into a folk festival that skillfully combines tradition and modernity. In its long history, the Whitsun funfair has become the largest funfair event in the region - an event that impresses with its unique atmosphere and community cohesion. It is particularly noteworthy that after a two-year break due to coronavirus, the funfair has been back in full glory since 2022 and attracts visitors from North Rhine-Westphalia and the neighboring Netherlands.

Even the start of the Whitsun fair is steeped in tradition: at 2:30 p.m., the marching bands march in a ceremonial star march, which ends with a symbolic barrel tapping by the mayor. This ceremonial act, followed by free drinks, not only heralds the start of the festival, but also sets the scene for the subsequent program. For example, there is a “Happy Hour” - an hour during which all rides operate at half price. Other fixed components are typical attraction highlights such as the Break Dancer, Rock Express and the bumper cars, which provide thrills and excitement every year. On particularly prominent years, a special Ferris wheel is also held on the Ostwall - in 2024, for example, the “Solar Wheel”, the world's first solar and battery-powered Ferris wheel with a height of 33 meters, was a fascinating attraction. The family day on Tuesday rounds off the event with special discounts and an impressive firework display, which impressively crowns the festival-like character of the funfair.

The front of the fairground attractions stretches for almost two kilometers, with a total area of around 10,500 square meters available to the showmen on the east and north walls. This impressive backdrop not only offers thrills and adventure on the rides, but also a varied culinary offering: restaurant tents, snack stalls, drinks stands and ice cream vendors ensure that visitors' palates are not neglected. With around 160 fairground exhibitors and up to 250,000 visitors a year, the Geldern Whitsun Fair is a festival of superlatives that delights families and adrenaline junkies alike - always accompanied by a high standard of safety, which is ensured by the cooperation of the police, medical services and other municipal facilities.

The Gelderner Pfingstkirmes is much more than just a funfair: it is a multifaceted event that is deeply rooted in regional tradition and always sets innovative accents. Whether it's the festive opening, the traditional rituals such as the barrel tapping and the joint fireworks display or the appearance of state-of-the-art attractions - this event reflects the creative and lively soul of Geldern.