525th Schützenfest Meckenheim (Anniversary)

525 Years of Marksmanship Tradition in Meckenheim

The St. Sebastianus Schützenbruderschaft Meckenheim v. 1600 e.V. is one of the oldest Catholic brotherhoods in the Rhineland. Documentary evidence traces precursor organizations back to the year 1501 — 525 years before 2026. The 525th Schützenfest is therefore not a normal marksmen's festival, but an anniversary edition, held under the motto “Treffsicheres Meckenheim”, celebrating the identity-forming role of the marksmen for the town on the Vorgebirge.

Date and Location

The festival takes place on Saturday, May 30, 2026, and Sunday, May 31, 2026, at the Schützenhalle Meckenheim, Willi-Weyer-Straße 28. The main opening hours are from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM daily. Admission is free, allowing residents and guests from the Rhein-Sieg district and the Bonn region to attend informally.

Highlights of the Anniversary Program

• Keg Tapping with free beer distribution
• Shooting for the “Karneval-Oscar” — a humorous tribute to Meckenheim's strong Rhenish Carnival tradition
• Crowning of the Citizen King and Marksman King
• Club Competition for sub-groups and guest brotherhoods
• Festival tent with live music and Rhenish gastronomy
• Family program and meeting with the reigning Marksmen's Majesty

Marksmanship Tradition in the Rhineland — What Does It Mean?

In North Rhine-Westphalia — and especially in the Rhineland — marksmen's brotherhoods are a central pillar of club life. They combine religious tradition (patronage of St. Sebastian, patron saint of archers and the dying), civic engagement, and the annual Schützenfest as a community event. The Meckenheim brotherhood has maintained its tradition for 525 years in an unbroken line — a unique selling point even in the tradition-rich Rhineland.

Meckenheim am Vorgebirge

Meckenheim is located in the Rhein-Sieg district, southwest of Bonn, at the transition from the Cologne Bay to the Vorgebirge with the nearby Siebengebirge. With around 25,000 inhabitants, Meckenheim is a small, prosperous town with a tradition of agriculture (apple and fruit cultivation) and an active club life. The 525th Schützenfest is an expression of this deeply rooted civil society.