Recklinghausen – Palmkirmes 2027

The Palmkirmes 2027 starts on Friday, 12 March at the Saatbruchgelände in Recklinghausen and runs until Sunday, 21 March 2027. As the largest spring funfair in North Rhine-Westphalia, it traditionally opens the funfair season. With around one million visitors, it is also one of the most visited funfairs in the Ruhr area. Here you can find the dates, the programme announced so far and all the travel information.

Dates and opening times for Palmkirmes 2027

Palmkirmes 2027 lasts ten days, as it has started on a Friday since 2009. As usual, it ends on Palm Sunday, which is 21 March 2027. Opening times for 2027 have not yet been announced. 2026 it was open on Fridays and Saturdays from 14 to 24, on Sundays from 11 to 23, and from Monday to Thursday from 14 to 23. We therefore list these times provisionally, as of 2026.

Rides and size

The Saatbruchgelände in the Hillerheide district has over 190 rides, amusements, shooting galleries, stalls, food outlets and bars. Together, they cover almost 2.500 metres of frontage. 2026 attractions included the Roue Parisienne Ferris wheel, Break Dance No. 2, Shockwave, Voodoo Jumper and Wellenflug. Children could enjoy Willy der Wurm and Kinderparadies, among other attractions. The rides at Palmkirmes 2027 have not yet been announced.

Programme: opening, family day and music fireworks

The programme for 2027 has not yet been announced either. 2026 the funfair opened on Friday at 14 with 15 minutes of free rides on all attractions. The official opening followed at 18, with a greeting from the mayor and ceremonial keg tapping. There was a showmen's church service on Sunday, a children's day with “Meet and Greet with the Kids' Stars” on Tuesday, and family day with numerous discounts on Wednesday.

The evening highlight is the music fireworks display, traditionally held on Thursdays. At Palmkirmes 2027, this would likely be Thursday, 18 March. The exact time has not yet been confirmed; 2026 it started at around 21:30.

History of Palmkirmes

Palmkirmes began around 620 years ago as a Palm Sunday celebration at the Altstadtmarkt in Recklinghausen. It soon developed into a fair where people bought things such as farming equipment and fabrics. The funfair was cancelled between 1891 and 1935, and again between 1939 and 1949. As the old town became too small in the 1950s, it eventually moved and opened at the Saatbruchgelände for the first time in 1956. It has lasted nine days since 1957, and ten days since 2009. Palmkirmes 2027 continues this tradition.

Getting to Palmkirmes 2027

By car, you can reach the funfair via the A2, taking the Recklinghausen-Süd or Recklinghausen-Ost exit. Enter Kurt-Oster-Straße 2, 45659 Recklinghausen into your sat nav. In 2026, parking at Herner Straße cost four euros per day, while the KSR car park at Beckbruchweg 33 cost three euros. By bus, take the SB20 line to the Vestlandhalle stop.

The city of Recklinghausen publishes the latest information at palmkirmes.de. Find more spring funfairs in the Spring fair / spring funfair category, including Hamburger Frühlingsdom 2027, or use the funfair finder.