In keeping with the market’s special location on the Rhine, visitors will find extraordinary, one-of-a-kind items with a maritime theme. These include lamps, lanterns and sculptures made from driftwood, which capture the charm of the river in a unique way. The range also includes imaginative metal figurines and decorative items made from recycled materials, creative pieces in a shabby-chic vintage style, decorative garden accessories, crocheted soft toys and handmade ‘feel-good jewellery’. Animal lovers will also find something to their liking at the artists’ market: anyone wishing to dress their four-legged friend in style will find original dog leads and collars – perfect for the next walk along the Rhine.
The Ingelheim Harbour Festival takes place from Friday 24 July to Sunday 26 July on the banks of the Rhine. Visitors can look forward to a varied programme featuring live music, fairground rides and an engaging children’s programme. There’s also a tempting range of culinary delights, from sweet to savoury, to satisfy every taste.
On all three days of the festival, Ingelheim’s wineries will set up their tents beneath the willow trees on the banks of the Rhine, where atmospheric lighting and sunshades create a welcoming atmosphere. The Ingelheim wine shop will also have a stall, serving delicious locally produced wines and grape juice. A wide range of culinary delights will also be available at various food stalls.
The official opening of the Harbour Festival, organised by Ingelheimer Kultur und Marketing GmbH (IkUM), will take place on Friday evening at 6 pm. Philipp Weitzel, the current ‘Father of the Rhine’, will kick off the three-day festival on the main stage. For Philipp Weitzel, the opening of the festival marks the start of his final year in office as ‘Father of the Rhine’. A successor is being sought for the next term of office, starting in 2027.
As was the case last year, IkUM is once again prioritising sustainability for the 2026 Harbour Festival. Reusable tableware will be used at all food stalls. By avoiding single-use tableware, waste volumes were already significantly reduced last year.
Accompanying the Harbour Festival, there will once again be an extensive programme of events. Among other things, the Frei-Weinheim Local History Museum ‘Fischerhaus’ will be opening its doors. On the Sunday of the Harbour Festival, visitors can view this traditional small house – not far from the festival grounds – from 2 pm to 5 pm.
To ensure that guests from the opposite bank of the Rhine can travel here stress-free and enjoy the Ingelheim Harbour Festival until late in the evening, ferry services between Oestrich-Winkel and the Ingelheim harbour pier will be extended on all three days. On the first two days of the event, the ferry will run until 1.15 am, and on Sunday until 10.15 pm.
Further information on opening times, the programme and how to get there is available online at www.ikum-ingelheim.de/hafenfest.
