History of the Worms Whitsun Fair

More than 750 Years of Worms Whitsun Fair

The Worms Whitsun trade and sales fair goes back to the year 1243. In that year, Worms was granted farreaching trade privileges by Emperor Frederick II, entitling the city to annually hold a two-week fair every year after Easter.

Merchants and traders from elsewhere were also admitted to the market. In the course of the centuries it evolved into the Whitsun fair, which was more and more enriched by entertainment facilities. Since 1972, an exhibition for displaying and selling products was organised by local companies.

When the municipality transferred the organisation and the administration of the exhibition to Kurt Brandt, a private firm, in 1982, the fair was opened to companies from everywhere, which immediately skyrocketed the number of participating companies.

Under Kurt Brandt’s direction, the Whitsun Fair was promoted as an economic fair throughout Europe, with 200 companies exhibiting their produces in ten giant halls and on a large open-air area.

A Modern Exhibition

After more than twenty years, the organisation of the Whitsun Fair was handed over to Messe- und Veranstaltungsgesellschaft Pirmasens mbH. The halls were modernised and air-conditioned, the open-air ground was refurbished.

A high-quality visual appearance was introduced by providing modern movable walls and tent halls. The halls were given a clear layout subdivided in theme areas. Visitors can now explore special exhibitions, watch handcraft demonstrations, fashion shows, experience radio and TV broadcasts and enjoy a varied onstage entertainment programme.

But for all modernisation, the traditional character of the Whitsun Fair has been maintained. The firm’s project manager is regularly calls on the municipality.