Harbour Celebration in Ruhrort boasts a 30-day event extravaganza
Ruhrorter Hafenfest 2025: A Three-Day Celebration of Music and Culture
The Ruhrorter Hafenfest, Duisburg's most popular folk festival, is set to return for its 30th edition from August 15th to 18th, 2025. The three-day event will take place at the Richard-Hindorf-Platz and Schifferbörse stages, offering a diverse lineup of live music acts from Friday afternoon through Sunday evening.
Friday, August 15th
The festivities kick off at the Richard-Hindorf-Platz stage with Lost Tapes performing from 15:00 to 16:15. The stage program for the day also includes Das Neuwerk, IHR!, AC/DCs, and Schiffergottesdienst. The festival will be opened with an ecumenical service on the Richard-Hindorf-Platz.
As the sun sets, visitors can enjoy a grand fireworks display at 11 PM, and a ship parade around 10 PM. The harbor Rotterdam will send its sailing boat Helena to the festival, and buses will take visitors to the Rheinhauser part of the harbor. The "Friedrich-Ebert-Bridge" will be closed from around 9:30 PM until about 45 minutes after the fireworks.
Saturday and Sunday
The festival continues on both stages each day, but the detailed hourly schedule beyond Friday for all three days is not fully listed in the provided sources. Highlights include prominent artists like Blümchen and ElectrOrchestrA, and special events such as a Friday evening fireworks show and a Saturday drone show.
On Saturday, the Schifferbörse Stage Program includes Marina Shanty-Chor Oberhausen e.V., Duisburger Hafenchor, Birdie Band, Christoph Terbonssen, and DJ Sam Vegas. On Sunday, the Stage Schifferbörse includes ElectrOrchestrA, 2You, Pure Vocals, and DJ Marco Aden.
In addition to the music, the Ruhrorter Neumarkt will host a stage program and a lively Kunst- und Kulturmarkt on Sunday. The popular Hinterhoftrödel event will also take place on Sunday. On Saturday, there will be an alternative to the fireworks: a grand drone show at 11 PM.
Notes and Additional Information
- A stage will also be set up in front of the Schifferbörse with food and drink options. The Ruhrorter Neumarkt will have tables and chairs set up by Gerda from "Itze" and street music provided by Ankerbar-Jenny and the Fry on Saturday.
- From Sunday to Monday, a fairground with many attractions and food stalls will be spinning on the Mühlenweide.
- For a precise, complete timetable of performance acts on August 16th and 17th at both stages, the official Ruhrorter Hafenfest website's program PDF or onsite information would be the best sources.
- Marcel Meyer from the Rhenus company is the festival's patron.
- Historical steamships like Jan de Sterke, George Stephenson, and MS Rheinfels will be available for visitors to board and cruise through the harbor during the festival.
- The ship's bell will ring three times long-short-short during the opening ceremony.
- Blümchen performs on Sunday evening around 20:00 as a headline artist for the festival's 30th anniversary.
For full details on the artists and timing for each stage across all days, checking the official event program PDF or contacting organizers is recommended.
The Lower Rhine community might find delight in exploring the home-and-garden section at the lively Kunst- und Kulturmarkt on Sunday during the Ruhrorter Hafenfest, a three-day celebration of music and culture, held at the Richard-Hindorf-Platz and Schifferbörse stages. As a noteworthy highlight, the Lower Rhine-inspired Hinterhoftrödel event takes place on Sunday, adding to the festival's charm and local lifestyle appeal.
