Kehl, Germany is already deep into preparations for its annual Messdi festival, slated to begin on May 14th, 2026, with organizers anticipating another large turnout following over 195,000 visitors last year. The event, considered the largest Volksfest in the Ortenau region, requires months of planning and coordination across multiple city departments, police, emergency services and external vendors, according to Antje Lenz, Tourism Director for Kehl Marketing.
Kehl Marketing is responsible for the organization of the Messdi for the third consecutive year. Lenz emphasized the collaborative nature of the festival, stating, “The Messdi is a huge community project, where many areas interlock,” during a recent interview discussing the extensive function involved. The organization is currently focused on program planning, coordinating exhibitors, creating the event layout, managing traffic and parking, securing sponsorships, and coordinating event technology.
This year’s Messdi will feature more than 50 program points across four stages. Organizers are also continuing the apply of the Messdi-Becher, a reusable cup introduced in recent years to reduce glass breakage on the market square and throughout the city center. Lenz noted positive feedback regarding the cup’s effectiveness. The Messdi-Fünfer, a traditional five-euro voucher, will also be distributed again this year.
The St. Jams Band, a musical group from the Drôme Provençale region of France, is scheduled to perform at the festival, appearing in the Innenstadt Marktplatz / Hauptstraße area. The band, led by Jean-Marie Wolf, blends influences from southern French music and urban jazz, performing both jazz standards and original compositions. Contact information for Kehl Marketing, including Antje Lenz’s details (phone: 07851 – 88 1510, email: [email protected]), is available for inquiries.
Kehl Marketing, headquartered at Rheinstraße 77, 77694 Kehl, is led by Geschäftsführer Christoph Hodapp. The company’s registered office is in Kehl, and It’s registered with the Freiburg District Court under HRB 701246. Further details about the Messdi can be found on the official website, www.kehler-messdi.de.
