Big family festival takes place on 1 May at the textile factory

On Thursday, 1 May 2025, an international family festival will take place at the textile factory in Bocholt from 10 am to 6 pm. Visitors can expect a colourful and creative programme over eight hours that reflects Bocholt's cultural diversity. Admission is free.

A large number of clubs and societies from Bocholt present hands-on activities, music and dance on the grounds of the weaving mill on Uhlandstraße. Culinary delicacies and other attractions complete the programme.

The event is organised by the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL), supported by the city of Bocholt and local cultural associations.

A multifaceted commitment to the European idea

The Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL) is continuing its tradition of an annual family festival and has organised a major event for the eleventh time in cooperation with the Integration Council of the city of Bocholt, Europe-Direct Bocholt and many cultural associations."In the last two years in particular, we were able to impress the five to seven thousand visitors with a great stage programme and lots of hands-on activities at the stands of the various cultural associations and organisations, and we definitely want to do that again this year", says Martin Schmidt on behalf of the organiser, LWL-Museum Textilwerk.

Colourful programme for young and old

"We are delighted that almost everyone from previous years has confirmed their participation again and I am particularly pleased that "newcomers" such as the German-Moroccan Cultural Association, the Arab Cultural Association and our representatives from the various neighbourhoods are also taking part again and continuing to show how colourful Bocholt is", says Bruno Wansing, Integration Officer for the City of Bocholt

Once again, visitors can look forward to a colourful programme: "time travellers" as "walking acts" from the Dutch theatre Abacus with their time cruisers will amaze visitors and a storyteller will captivate them with stories from all over the world. Familiar favourites from previous years, such as the steam tractor and the numerous club stands with culinary specialities, will also be back.

In addition, the cultural mediators of the textile factory will guide visitors through the weaving mill, accompanied by interpreters who will simultaneously translate the tours into a wide variety of languages. A diverse programme will be presented on stage by the participating cultural associations. From Turkish saz and Kurdish tambourine to Albanian and Chinese singing, as well as the band "Abscore", there is something for everyone. Visitors can not only get to know other cultures and languages, but also socialise and network with other groups. "We are looking forward to a varied programme and a great event", says Schmidt.

Bocholt's recipe for Europe

A special campaign is "Bocholt's Recipe for Europe". The cultural associations, organisers and organisations have compiled their culinary recipes and their recipe for living together in a colourful Europe on Din A 1 boards and will present this in a large ring binder on stage and on site. There will also be the "My footprint/handprint for Europe" campaign. "We have rolled out a 50 metre long piece of fabric on which visitors can immortalise themselves with their footprint for Europe", reports Martin Schmidt.

The following organisations and institutions are taking part in the festival:

• Afghan Hazara German Community Bocholt e.V.
• Afghan Cultural Association Bocholt
• Ahmadiyya community
• Arab Cultural Association Bocholt
• German-Albanian Society Bocholt
• Centro-Cultural-Espanol de Bocholt e.V.
• German-British Society Bocholt e.V.
• German-Chinese Society Bocholt e.V.
• German-French Society Bocholt e.V.
• German-Moroccan Cultural Association Bocholt e.V.
• German-Syrian Association Bocholt
• German-Turkish Society e.V., Bocholt
• Eritrean Cultural Association Bocholt and Surroundings e.V.
• European Union Bocholt
• Europe-Direct Bocholt
• EWIBO
• Friends of the Westphalian Textile Museum e.V.
• International Mesopotamian Cultural Association e.V.
• Italian Cultural Association Bocholt
• Coptic Association
• Croatian Cultural Community Bocholt
• Cultural Association Akdeniz Alevis Bocholt and Surroundings e.V.
• Kurdish Cultural Association
• Leben-im-Alter e.V. (L-i-A)
• Door-to-door association

and

• German Red Cross
• Integration council of the city of Bocholt
• City of Bocholt as an employer (ESB, fire brigade, integration office, personnel)