585th Community, Marksmen's and Folk Festival Winsen (Aller) 2026

585 Years of Tradition — One of Germany's Oldest Marksmen's Festivals

With its 585th edition, the Marksmen's and Folk Festival in Winsen (Aller) ranks among the oldest documented marksmen's festivals in Germany. The tradition dates back to the year 1441 — a number that many clubs today would gladly bear in their coat of arms. The festival is an official Community, Marksmen's, and Folk Festival, meaning it combines marksmen's customs, local tradition, and folk festival atmosphere with a full-blown fairground character.

More Than a Marksmen's Festival — Folk Festival of the Municipality

Unlike most village marksmen's festivals, Winsen is a folk festival with supra-regional appeal: showmen with rides, raffles, and food stalls complement the traditional marksmen's parade. The municipality of Winsen (Aller), with its member communities (Winsen, Wietze, Hambühren, Meißendorf, among others), jointly hosts the festival — accordingly, its catchment area is large.

King's Shooting and Parade

The marksmen's part focuses on the king's shooting and the proclamation of the new marksmen's king. The parade on Sunday morning leads through the center of Winsen — with marching bands, traditional costume groups, friendly marksmen's clubs, and floats. On the festival grounds by the Aller river, a large festival tent hosts evening events with live music and dancing.

Winsen (Aller) — Municipality on the Aller

Winsen (Aller) is located northwest of Celle on the Aller river. With about 13,000 inhabitants in the core municipality, the district is one of the larger rural municipalities in the district. The annual marksmen's and folk festival is THE event in the local calendar and traditionally draws several tens of thousands of visitors over the weekend.