Herford district/Minden-Lübbecke district. Nothing planned for the weekend yet? There’s a lot going on in the north of OWL, there’s a lot of variety:
Events in and around Herford
Table of Contents
- Events in and around Herford
- Comedyflash – Die Stand Up Comedy Show
- Events in Bünde
- New Year’s Concert by the Northwest German Philharmonic
- Events in Löhne and Bad Oeynhausen
- Luciano – 3 tenors celebrate a legend
- Legenden des Rock´n´Roll: – Elvis, Jerry Lee & Johnny Cash
- Event in Minden and the Lübbecker Land
- Minden Girls Talking & Walking Neujahrs-Walk
- Reset – Everything back to the beginning: New theater in Espelkamp
- 15th New Year’s Concert with the Hungarian Chamber Philharmonic
- What else is going on in the Herford and Minden-Lübbecke districts
- The most beautiful excursion destinations with children
- Culture and art
- Animal parks
- Hike
- Leisure pools and thermal baths
- Indoor playgrounds
- Amusement parks
- Discos
- And anything else?
Comedyflash – Die Stand Up Comedy Show
Friday, January 2nd
The stand-up comedy show “Comedyflash” takes place at the Kulturwerk Herford. Both experienced professional comedians and young talents from the German comedy scene will appear on stage. The show is based on the American stand-up format and offers a varied program of different comedy styles. Tickets for the show are available here.
📅 Time: Friday, January 2nd, 7 p.m
📍 Address: Kulturwerk Herford, Bünder Str. 82-86, 32051 Herford
🎫 Costs: 26,90 Euro
Events in Bünde
New Year’s Concert by the Northwest German Philharmonic
Sunday, January 4th
The city welcomes the New Year for the 25th time with the Northwest German Philharmonic. | © Nicolas Bröggelwirth
Doors open at 6 p.m., followed by the traditional champagne reception at 6:30 p.m. with a speech by Mayor Susanne Rutenkröger. From 7 p.m., the focus is on music: Under the direction of Markus Huber, works by Bellini, Verdi, Rossini and other composers as well as operetta melodies, swing, jazz and pop songs will be performed, interpreted by the Canadian lyric coloratura soprano Anne Elizabeth Sorbara.
📅 Time: Admission from 6 p.m., champagne reception at 6:30 p.m., start at 7 p.m
📍 Address: Steinmeisterstraße 13-15, 32257 Bünde
🎫 Costs: 40,70 Euro
Events in Löhne and Bad Oeynhausen
Luciano – 3 tenors celebrate a legend
Friday, January 2nd
Ricardo Marinello (from left), Oscar Marin and Johannes Groß pay homage to Luciano Pavarotti. | © Mautner Media GmbH.
Luciano Pavarotti. – © Mautner-Medien GmbH.” data-format=”16:9″/>
Luciano Pavarotti would have celebrated his 90th birthday in 2025. Three tenors from Germany, Spain and Italy are taking up this occasion to celebrate the musician. They present well-known arias by Verdi, Puccini and Donizetti as well as popular Italian songs – all live, without a microphone. The program includes “Nessun dorma”, “’O sole mio” and “La donna è mobile”. The concert commemorates Pavarotti’s musical legacy and presents his works in a modern interpretation. Tickets are available here.
📅 Time: Friday, January 2nd, 7:30 p.m.📍 Address: Theater im Park, Im Kurpark, 32545 Bad Oeynhausen🎫 Costs: Tickets ab 51,50 Euro
Legenden des Rock´n´Roll: – Elvis, Jerry Lee & Johnny Cash
Saturday, January 3rd
The musical revue “Legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll: Elvis, Jerry Lee & Johnny Cash” is coming to the Theater im Park. | © Staatsbad Bad Oeynhausen
The show highlights the beginnings of rock’n’roll in Memphis, Tennessee in the 1950s and presents the first recordings by Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. The program includes well-known hits such as “Jailhouse Rock”, “Great Balls of Fire” and “Ring of Fire” and shows important stages of her career, including performances in the SUN studio, piano shows and concerts in Las Vegas. The show conveys the music that shaped the youth culture of the time. Tickets are available here.
📅 Time: Saturday, January 3rd, 7:30 p.m.📍 Address: Theater im Park, Im Kurpark, 32545 Bad Oeynhausen🎫 Costs: Tickets ab 32 Euro
Event in Minden and the Lübbecker Land
Minden Girls Talking & Walking Neujahrs-Walk
Sunday, January 4th
Minden Girls Talking & Walking regularly organize open walks to get to know other women and girls. | © picture alliance / dpa
Minden Girls Talking & Walking wants to create a safe space for women – free and open to everyone who wants to make new contacts, make friends, network and spend time together. Regardless of age or ethnic background, every woman is welcome. There is no need to register – just come along and take part. The women provide information about the upcoming walks through Minden on Instagram: mindengirls_talkingwalking.
📅 Time: The walk starts at 11:30 a.m. and lasts 45 to 60 minutes
📍 Address: Peace Square, Minden
🎫 Costs: for free
Reset – Everything back to the beginning: New theater in Espelkamp
Saturday, January 3rd at 8 p.m. and Sunday, January 4th at 6 p.m
A photo from the good times, when the theater was still celebrating itself: 70 years of popular education and 50 years of the New Theater. | © Oliver Krato
Herbert, a once successful businessman, loses his memory after an accident. Those around him try to use the situation for their own purposes, which leads to a series of complications and surprising twists. The amnesia comedy has been a hit with audiences in Austria for years and is being shown for the first time in Espelkamp by the in-house ensemble under the direction of Bärbel Brandt.
📅 Time: Saturday, January 3rd at 8 p.m. and Sunday, January 4th at 6 p.m
📍 Address: Trakehner Str. 1, 32339 Espelkamp
🎫 Costs: Tickets between 10 and 22 euros.
15th New Year’s Concert with the Hungarian Chamber Philharmonic
Sunday, January 4th at 7:30 p.m
The New Year’s Concert with the Hungarian Chamber Philharmonic is taking place for the 15th time. | © Kul-Tür e. v.
The ensemble, consisting of members of leading Budapest orchestras, will play again at the New Year’s Concert in 2026 under the direction of Professor Antal Barnás. The program includes Viennese waltzes by Johann Strauss Father and Son as well as other classical works. The conductor leads through the program and accompanies the audience through the musical evening in a clear way. Tickets for the concert are available here.
📅 Time: Sunday, January 4th at 7:30 p.m
📍 Address: Auditorium of the Rahden high school, Freiherr-vom-Stein-Straße 5, 32369 Rahden
🎫 Costs: Tickets are available in advance for 27 euros (members 22 euros). At the box office, entry costs 30 euros (members 25 euros), with all prices including a glass of sparkling wine.
What else is going on in the Herford and Minden-Lübbecke districts
In the north of East Westphalia-Lippe there are numerous excursion destinations and a lot to discover outside of the events. You can find a selection of what else is going on in the Herford and Minden-Lübbecke districts here:
The most beautiful excursion destinations with children
Not only the holidays, but also the weekend are the ideal time for trips with the whole family. Here you can find an overview of the most beautiful excursion destinations with children. In the Herford district there are tips for indoors and outdoors and also for those on a budget. In the Minden-Lübbecke district there is, among other things, an amusement park and a candy factory.
If you can imagine a day trip to the rest of OWL, you will find further excursion tips for families with children here.
Culture and art
The Marta Museum in Herford shows art, architecture and design. | © Frank-Michael Kiel Steinkamp
The Marta Museum in Herford shows art, architecture and design. It was opened in 2005. The building was designed by star architect Frank Gehry. In the Marta-Museum There are changing exhibitions.
Die Northwest Germans Philharmonic is based in Herford. It is one of three state symphony orchestras in North Rhine-Westphalia. 78 musicians play regularly in various concert halls in East Westphalia-Lippe as well as throughout Germany and abroad.
The spa park is located in the heart of the spa town of Bad Oeynhausen in the Minden-Lübbecke district. Here you will find, among other things, the Wandelhalle – where spa concerts by the Staatsbad-Orchester regularly take place, the Theater im Park and, adjacent to it, the GOP Varieté. Various events also take place regularly in the 26-hectare spa park itself. Among other things, this takes place in the Bad Oeynhausen spa park on the first weekend in August Parking lightsfestival celebrated. You can find more information in the “Erwin” event portal.
Animal parks
The “Inseparables” in the Waldfrieden Zoo entertain the other animals with their singing. | © Frank-Michael Kiel-Steinkamp
The Herford Zoo Every year the season opens around March and ends in November. More than 600 animals from 90 different species live here – regional and exotic. There are feeding areas, some walk-in enclosures and a petting area as well as two large playgrounds.
It is located in the immediate vicinity of the Minden-Lübbecke district Ströhen Zoo. More than 800 animals from all over the world live on 30 hectares. Discovery tours, animal encounters and even overnight accommodation are offered here.
Hike
There are also numerous Hiking trails in the Herford and Minden-Lübbecke districtswhere nature can be explored. In this article you will also find suitable hiking routes in Bünder Land that are also suitable for children.
A popular place in the Herford district is the nature reserve Hücker Moor in Spenge. The Size Torfmoor in Lübbecke and Hille is a nature reserve in the Minden-Lübbecke district. There are four circular hiking trails here.
Leisure pools and thermal baths
The Herford leisure pool H2O is a visitor magnet, especially for families. | © Frank-Michael Kiel-Steinkamp
It’s not just events that can be done in the north of OWL. There are also various leisure facilities on offer.
In Herford H2O You can swim and splash around in the leisure and sports area. Massages or cosmetic treatments are offered in the refuge. There is also a sauna world. They are also available in AquaFun in Kirchlengern. A highlight: an LED slide system with time measurement.
Im Atoll leisure pool A midnight sauna with different themes takes place every month in Espelkamp. The Bali-Therme in the Bad Oeynhausen spa park offers a thermal area with thermal mineral brine pools. In the Bali thermal baths you can also relax in the sauna and wellness area.
Indoor playgrounds
There are 17 attractions at Mega Bounce Minden, including a free bounce area. | © Mindortainment
The offer is especially for children Springolino in Herford. The indoor playground offers, among other things, a climbing labyrinth, trampolines, a mini fair and an outdoor area with a water playground.
The trampoline hall Mega Bounce Minden offers 17 digitalized games and sports attractions on 2,000 square meters. The more classic indoor playground is right next door Mindocino.
There has also been an indoor playground in Bünde since February 2025. The heart of “JBs Kids Factory” is a 23 meter long and 6.50 meter wide play tower. There is also a ninja course, a traffic park with ride-on cars and traffic signs, trampolines, slides, a ball pit, a multifunctional area and a soccer court.
Exclusive insights: This is the new indoor playground in Bünde
Amusement parks
In Potts Park, the Stone Age themed area was expanded in 2022 with the addition of the cliff slingshot. | © Alex Lehn
The target group of the family-run amusement park “Potts Park“ are families with children up to the age of 12 or 13. In addition to classic rides such as carousels and a wild water ride, learning through play is a central aspect of the park philosophy.
Learning is also done through play Dinopark Münchehagen. The scientific adventure and theme park is located just behind the border from Minden-Lübbecke to Lower Saxony. There are more than 300 full-size reconstructions of dinosaurs on a 2.5 kilometer long circular route.
Discos
If you feel like celebrating, you have several options in the Herford and Minden-Lübbecke districts. In the Herford district, for example cultural work in Herford or in the Wilhelmshöhe celebrated in Bünde.
In the Minden-Lübbecke district you can Let’s go Dancing and partying in Bad Oeynhausen.
And anything else?
Not sure what you’re looking for yet? The “Erwin” event portal offers an overview of many events in the region.
You can find out more about leisure topics in the Herford and Minden-Lübbecke districts in our special “Lifestyle, Gastronomy, Shopping”.