Gevelsberg is a small place in the North Rhine-Westphalia part of Germany. About 32,000 residents live here.
Its green fields and forested mountains would have you believe that this is a sleepy town where people come for solitude and quiet. But this town loves to party and plays host to numerous festivals throughout the year.
The biggest is the Gevelsberg Kirmes annual festival. It is an end-of-June fair that attracts visitors from all over the world. The streets are filled with party-goers as they drink the local beer and eat freshly grilled sausages. They wear big, bright and humorous hats as they play games, watch fireworks and go on the amusement park rides.
The Easter holiday is another great time to visit. Every Ascension Thursday the town has a big fair called the Quellenfest. This is the holiday in which Christians believe that Jesus Christ resurrected and then returned to Heaven. Quellenfest is observed at the same time as Father’s Day, so you may see some German men singing and drinking in the streets in celebration. ;-)
The International Gitarrenfestival is also held around Easter time. This festival brings master guitarists into town for concerts, competitions and even music lessons.
Gevelsberg celebrates Christmas in a traditional German way: with a Christmas market, of course! There are two annual markets that take place in the first and second weeks of the Advent holiday.
While festivals are an important part of Gevelsberg life, there’s a relaxing side to this town too. A recreation park in the Stefan brook valley is a good way to unwind after a whirlwind day of parties and beer. A stroll through this park will take you to a forest of protected beech trees.
A sculpture workshop was founded in 2002. Here, the town’s craftsmen create their art using metal, wood and stone. It is an oasis of calm in this fun-loving town.
