Big family festival takes place again on 1 May

On Friday, 1 May 2026, an international family festival will take place at the textile factory in Bocholt from 10 am to 6 pm. Visitors can expect a colourful and creative programme over eight hours that reflects Bocholt's cultural diversity. Admission is free.

The Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) together with the Integration Office of the City of Bocholt and the Committee for Equal Opportunities and Integration as well as numerous cultural associations and organisations are inviting visitors.

"In the last three years in particular, we were able to impress the five to seven thousand visitors with a great stage programme and lots of hands-on activities at the stands of the various cultural associations and organisations, and we definitely want to do that again this year", says Martin Schmidt on behalf of the organisers, LWL-Museum Textilwerk.

The motto of the festival is "Bocholt tafelt gemeinsam" and it offers visitors a varied and creative programme from 10 am to 6 pm. Over 25 Bocholt clubs, societies and associations will be presenting themselves on the grounds around the weaving mill on Uhlandstraße. They offer many exciting attractions to take part in as well as a wide range of culinary delights.

We are delighted that almost everyone from previous years has confirmed their participation again and I am particularly pleased that "newcomers" such as Mor Aday Bocholt e.V. and the German Somali Aid and Development Association are once again taking part and continuing to show how colourful Bocholt is", says Bruno Wansing, Integration Officer for the City of Bocholt

International artists will provide entertainment on stage. The youngest visitors can be mesmerised by a storyteller, travel into the world of fantasy with the dragon Feuerfrey and take a ride on a real steam tractor. A photo box captures the wonderful moments in front of the steam engine - photos can be taken straight away. "Time travellers" and steampunks mingle with the guests as "Walking Acts" and enchant them with their unusual performances, vehicles and Steamtopolis.

The LWL Museum offers many hands-on activities throughout the day as well as short guided tours in "MAUS" style, repeatedly translated into different languages. These range from sign language, Bokeltse Platt and Dutch to Urdu and Dari. Children who take part in the many interactive stations can win Bresser binoculars with the free game pass.

Those who want to take a break can do so at the 40 metre long table or in the IBENA picnic area. Admission to the festival grounds and the LWL-Museum Textilwerk is free!

The following organisations and institutions are taking part in the festival:

• Afghan Hazara German Community Bocholt e.V.
• Afghan Cultural Association Bocholt e.V.
• Ahmaddiyya Muslim Jamaat
• Centro-Cultural-Espanol de Bocholt e.V.
• German Syrian Association e.V.
• German-Albanian Society Bocholt
• German-British Society Bocholt e.V.
• German-Chinese Society Bocholt e.V.
• German Moroccan Cultural Association Bocholt e.V.
• German-Somali Aid and Development Association e.V.
• German-Turkish Society e.V.
• Eritrean Cultural Association e.V.
• International Mesopotamian Cultural Association e.V.
• Italian Cultural Association e.V. Bocholt
• Coptic Association Bocholt e.V.
• Cultural Association Akdeniz-Alevis Bocholt and Surroundings e.V.
• Kurdish Cultural Association Bocholt e.V.
• Mor Aday Bocholt e.V.
• RUCH German-Ukrainian Community e.V.
• Turkish Parents' Association for Bocholt and the surrounding area e.V.
• Associations and sponsors of neighbourhood development in Bocholt
• City of Bocholt (Personnel - Bocholt Fire Brigade - ESB Bocholt - Europe-Direct Bocholt - Integration Office)

Press contact:

Martin Schmidt, LWL-Museum Textilwerk, Tel. 02871 21611-254 and Markus Fischer, LWL Press Office, Tel. 0251 591-235(presse(at)lwl-org(dot)de).