With mascots, soccer, magic, trial shows, face painting, and lots of hands-on activities, the Family Day at the Nürburgring offered a colorful world of experiences for the third time. Around 20,000 visitors of all ages flocked to the ring°boulevard, the ring°arena, the ring°werk motorsport museum, the BMW M POWER grandstand, and the Bitburger Gasthaus last Sunday to enjoy an exciting autumn break day filled with wonder, games, and hands-on activities. From shows with Volker Rosin and Jannik Freestyle to hands-on technology with the Junior Uni Daun and from emergency vehicles to children's driving courses – the program was as diverse as the families who came.
"The Nürburgring is a lively, eventful place – even away from motorsports and major events. Our indoor offerings in particular – from the ring°arena and the museum to the ring°kartbahn and the restaurants – show that the Nürburgring is an attractive destination for families all year round, regardless of the weather and the event calendar," explains Nürburgring Managing Director Christian Stephani. “Partners and companies from the region also take part in Family Day, presenting their offerings and inviting people to join in. The concept has been well received by visitors and exhibitors, which is why Family Day has continued to evolve since its premiere two years ago.”
In addition to numerous partners, the Nürburgring was of course also represented with its own stands, and the Nürburgring team was actively involved in several hands-on activities – including its own young talents, who lent a helping hand. "The competition, in which children could write a postcard to our mascot Legend, and the photo wall, in front of which visitors could take souvenir photos with Legend, were extremely popular. Seeing how well what you've organized beforehand is received is a great experience,“ says trainee Madeleine enthusiastically. Fellow trainee Dennis adds: ”Early in the morning, shortly before the official opening of the family day, there was already a lot of activity at the two Nürburgring wheels of fortune. The prizes, ranging from sweets as consolation prizes to small stuffed animals, really made the children beam."
The media production company Nürburgring.tv, which provided behind-the-scenes insights, and the independently operated Nürburgring Hotels & Ferienpark with its catering facilities were also part of the Family Day. For hotel manager Mathias Kemnitz, the event is an important date in the calendar every year. “Young and old are always welcome here. That's part of our philosophy, and the Bitburger Gasthaus stands for exactly that – a place where everyone can find their place, have good conversations, and enjoy delicious food from the pot and pan. We were particularly pleased this year with the cooperation with Ravensburger, which was met with great enthusiasm by the families.”
For the first time, the ring°arena was also actively used as part of Family Day. The Rhineland Football Association was represented with interactive stations, small soccer tournaments, and exercise activities. The conclusion was thoroughly positive: "We are really excited about our first serve at Family Day. The ring°arena is a great location for reaching families with our youth development work,“ explains Michael Wilkes, vice president of youth development for the association. Sven Edinger, chairman of the association's youth committee, adds: ”Soccer is a multifaceted team sport with many functions – from school sports to children's and youth soccer to refereeing. We were able to show that to thousands of people here."
With strong visitor numbers and positive feedback from partners, one thing is already certain: Nürburgring Family Day will once again be a fixture in the calendar of this versatile event location next year. Families can already mark October 25, 2026, in their calendars. Then the Nürburgring and its partners will once again invite visitors to enjoy the colorful hustle and bustle in and around the ring°boulevard.