Pfingst Open Air Essen-Werden

The Pfingst Open Air, POA as it is also known, in Essen Werdener Löwentaltook place for the 39th time in 2024. The beginnings of the festival date back to 1980. The music event attracts thousands of visitors every year and is one of the leading music festivals in the region. Of course, Pfingst Open Air is not just a music festival, but also a place for people to meet, enjoy culture and share experiences. It delivers an impressive line-up, from rock to electronic music, with something for every musical taste. It particularly appeals to people who are looking for new music or are open to new sounds.

The Umsonst-und-Draußen event traditionally takes place on the Ruhrwiesen in Werden. Löwental and is characterized by two stages - the main stage and the electronic meadow, known as E-Wiese for short. As the name suggests, electronic music is played on the E-Wiese and the main stage features the main acts, artists with a musical repertoire ranging from heavy metal to rock and hip-hop. The festival is regarded as the highlight of the festival year and crowns it with an inviting atmosphere and a diverse cultural offering.

The youth welfare office and the Rockförderverein jointly organize the event, which is also popular with families due to the peaceful atmosphere. The fact that there is no need to buy expensive tickets is also family-friendly, as admission is free. However, you shouldn't arrive too late, because once the capacity of the festival site is exhausted, no one will be allowed in.

The organizers are appealing to visitors to use buses and trains to travel to and from the festival, or to travel by bike or form car pools. If you would like to travel by train, the S-Bahn line 6 (S6) is the perfect connection, as the Werden S-Bahn station is only a few minutes' walk from the festival site. Like the S6, which commutes between Essen main station (HBF) and Cologne-Deutz, Deutsche Bahn also operates special trains from Essen-HBF.

Due to the corona pandemic, the festival could not take place for three years and finally celebrated its comeback in 2023 with a new edition. This so-called new edition meant that the festival no longer took place on Whit Monday, but on Whit Saturday. This seems to be set to continue in the future, as in 2024 it was also the Saturday at Whitsun when the idyllic Ruhr meadows, the Old Strandbad Essen-Werden, were immersed in rap and hip hop sounds.

The music spectacle is dedicated to a different motto every year. The motto in 2024 was "Here comes the sun". Even if the weather is sometimes less than ideal at festivals like the Werden Open Air, visitors are not deterred and arm themselves with sturdy shoes and rain ponchos. The latter are also available for a small euro at the sales stands on the grounds. In addition to food and drink stalls, you will also find jewelry and handicrafts. As at other events, there is an absolute ban on bottles on the Werden Open Air site for safety reasons. However, there is a drinking water fountain where water can be filled free of charge. Information stands and activities address topics relevant to young people.

The aims of the open air are to promote young talent, network with event organizers and the youth culture scene in Essen and the surrounding area, as well as to present youth-relevant topics in a relaxed atmosphere. The invited artists come from Essen and the surrounding area. The festival is therefore seen as a springboard for local newcomers. Of course, there are also some big names who perform as the main act and attract many visitors to this great event. Some of the best-known artists who have performed at Pfingst Open Air include Martinez, Giant Rooks, ROOSEVELT, the 257ers, IL Civetto, Kay Shanghai, Clueso, Gentleman, Makko and OTPendia.

Another important piece of information is that the instructions of the police and security forces must be followed.