572 years of the Bocholt Fair

Bocholt. This year, the Bocholt Funfair will take place at the start of the autumn half-term - on the third weekend in October. Visitors can once again look forward to this four-day highlight this year, as from Friday through to Monday inclusive, there will be plenty of exciting rides for young and old alike, thrilling games and all manner of savoury and sweet treats, as well as refreshing drinks on offer. The fairground operators and local pub owners invite you to come and explore the fair on all four days.

Extensive preparation | The aim is a good mix of fairground rides

From a large number of applications, around 320 fairground operators and local traders were selected to have a stall at the traditional city centre fair. The Bocholt fair is not only a fixed date in the calendars of Bocholt's residents - this "folk festival" also enjoys great popularity beyond the region. When it comes to selecting fairground attractions, one thing is particularly close to fair organiser Markus Kock's heart: a mix of high-quality and large rides, a wide range of attractions for children and families, and an attractive selection of food and drink stalls. ""Of course, we have a lot to do in the run-up to the fair and it involves months of preparation, but it's great fun to plan and organise the fair for Bocholt. We're rewarded for it at the fair weekend, as people enjoy their visit to the fair to the full"," says Kock. And it's not just visitors from Bocholt and the surrounding region who look forward to the fair every year. "Our fairground operators enjoy being in Bocholt because the fair is held in high regard here and everyone celebrates together in a peaceful atmosphere", added Ludger Dieckhues, Managing Director of Stadtmarketing.

Fair set-up | Dedicated infrastructure

A complete infrastructure, including electricity and water supplies, is set up for the days of the fair, along with a modified traffic management scheme. Hundreds of the fairground operators' caravans and logistics vehicles are positioned throughout the town. "What makes the Bocholt fair so special is that it's an appealing combination of a city-centre fair and a large central hub on the city centre's biggest square, Berliner Platz. This creates a variety of walking routes that constantly reveal new views. There's something for everyone," Dieckhues continues. A

comprehensive promotional campaign for the fair aims to reach not only the residents of Bocholt but also visitors from further afield, including those from across the border, and to encourage them to plan a visit to the fair.

The area behind the Kinodrom remains

The area behind the Kinodrom, the "old fire station site", will once again be fully utilised in 2026. This area has been incorporated into the festivities for the past four years and has been very well received by visitors ever since.

This year, the site of the old fire station will once again feature large fairground rides, such as the new "Devil Rock%$, the "Sky Fall%$, the "Autoskooter Number 1", "Excalibur", as well as a refreshment bar and the "Looping the Loop" swing ride. The combination of high-quality attractions has ensured a pleasant visitor experience and good footfall in recent years, so the city's marketing department is once again focusing on this major attraction this year.

Further information | Photos

The supporting programme, opening hours and the poster for the 2026 Bocholt Fair can be found in the appendix to this press release.

Partners

A big thank you goes to the Bocholt Kirmes's key partners: stadtwerker, Volksbank Bocholt, the Bitburger Brewing Group and the Bocholt Fairground Operators' Association.

Further information is available at: www.bocholt.de/kirmes