Harbor Festivity in Ruhrort: Celebration by the Waterside
The Ruhrorter Hafenfest Returns for Four Days of Entertainment in Duisburg
The Ruhrorter Hafenfest, a popular folk festival in Duisburg, is set to return from August 15 to 18, 2025. Over four days, attendees can immerse themselves in a vibrant programme of live music, maritime culture, food, carnival rides, market stalls, and harbor tours.
The festival kicks off on Friday, August 15, with an ecumenical service and a toll of the ship's bell. Live music starts at 3:00 PM on the Richard-Hindorf-Platz stage with the band Lost Tapes, followed by performances by Schiffergottesdienst, IHR!, AC/DCs, and others. The evening will culminate in a ship parade and a spectacular pyro spectacle, including a fire waterfall, lit on the bridge between Homberg and Ruhrort at 11:00 PM.
On Saturday, the festival continues with the Schifferbörse Stage featuring the Marina Shanty-Chor Oberhausen e.V., Duisburger Hafenchor, Birdie Band, Christoph Terbonssen, and DJ Sam Vegas. Meanwhile, the Ruhrorter Neumarkt comes alive with Gerda from "Itze" setting up tables and chairs, and Jenny from the Ankerbar providing street music. As the sun sets, a large drone show will replace the traditional fireworks at 11:00 PM.
Sunday offers a mix of live music, art, and culture on the Richard-Hindorf-Platz stage, featuring Tanzschule Paulerberg, T.B.A., Just Dimi, DJ Sam Vegas, Blüschen, and more. The Ruhrorter Neumarkt will also host an art and culture market, with stalls and a stage program featuring Theater Kreuz&Quer, Björn Nonnweiler, Zepp Oberpichler, Thomas Frahm and Radegundis, Helmut Meier, Vätergenesungswerk, and others.
The final day, Monday, August 18, sees the festival wrap up with live music and entertainment on both the Richard-Hindorf-Platz and Schifferbörse stages. The Mühlenweide will host a fairground with many attractions and food stalls from 10:00 AM until 10:00 PM.
Throughout the festival, visitors can expect historical steamships like Jan de Sterke and the magnificent George Stephenson, along with the MS Rheinfels and the sailing boat Helena from the harbor Rotterdam, to be part of the celebration. The festival will be opened on Friday by Marcel Meyer from the Rhenus company, the festival's patron.
With its rich history, authentic maritime atmosphere, and diverse programme, the Ruhrorter Hafenfest promises to be one of the largest and most authentic inland port festivals worldwide. So, mark your calendars and get ready for a fantastic four-day adventure in Duisburg!
At the Ruhrorter Hafenfest, you can embrace a unique home-and-garden lifestyle in the heart of Duisburg, as the festival offers various decorative market stalls on the Ruhrorter Neumarkt. On Sunday, immerse yourself in the arts and culture scene, where you can find stalls showcasing local artist's work and live performances by Tanzschule Paulerberg and others.
