 Nieheim considers itself a stronghold of East Westphalian carnival custom, and the "Rosenmontagsumzug" – a colourful parade – is the high point of the season.In the ecclesiastical field, Dietrich von Nieheim (1338/48 - 1418), who served three popes and was held in high regard in the Roman Curia, achieved international recognition, if not outright fame.This is also said of Hugo Makibi Enomiya-Lassalle (1898 - 1990), a Jesuit priest, a religious philosopher, a meditation teacher and the builder of the Peace Church in Hiroshima born on the Externbrock estate near Nieheim.