141st ASV Marksmen's and Heritage Festival Willich

141 Years of Tradition — the ASV Willich

The General Marksmen's Association 1886 e.V. Willich is one of the most traditional marksmen's associations on the Lower Rhine. For over 140 years, the club has been preserving the marksmen's tradition in the city of Willich (Viersen district) and organizes the annual Marksmen's and Heritage Festival — in 2026, the 141st edition from July 10 to 14, 2026. The venue is the central Konrad-Adenauer-Park, which is transformed into a marksmen's grounds, festival tent, and public meeting place for the festive days.

Five Days of Festival Program

The ASV Marksmen's and Heritage Festival runs for five days from Friday to Tuesday, combining marksmen's tradition, heritage preservation, and exuberant festival tent atmosphere.

Friday, July 10, 2026 — Grand Open Air by the Pond

The festival kicks off with the grand open air by the pond in Konrad-Adenauer-Park — DJ, live band, catering. A modern, younger program component that opens the club to the next generation.

Saturday, July 11, 2026 — Muster and Opening

Muster of the marksmen's divisions, tattoo, ceremonial opening of the festival, and grand dance evening in the festival tent.

Sunday, July 12, 2026 — Grand Historical Parade

The historical parade is the highlight of the weekend: over 140 years of club history are embodied in floats, uniforms, dance groups, and music clubs. The parade moves through the Willich city center with the reigning King and Queen and their entire court. Afterwards, the King's crowning and festival evening in the tent.

Monday, July 13, 2026 — King's Bird Shooting

The traditional King's Bird Shooting: whoever knocks the last wooden splinter off the eagle on the bird stand becomes the new King for the 2026/2027 season. An exciting moment, often decided after hundreds of shots. Crowning ceremony in the evening.

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 — Conclusion

Festive conclusion with catering, social program, and farewell to the festival days.

Konrad-Adenauer-Park — The Festival Grounds

The Konrad-Adenauer-Park is Willich's central green space — a park meadow with old trees, a pond, and ample space for the large festival tent, the bird stand, several stages, and catering areas. The park provides the ideal backdrop for a five-day festival event that combines historical marksmen's tradition with modern open-air elements.

Willich on the Lower Rhine

Willich (around 53,000 inhabitants) is part of the Viersen district on the western Lower Rhine, between Krefeld and Mönchengladbach. The city, with its districts of Willich-Mitte, Anrath, Neersen, and Schiefbahn, maintains a strong local club culture — and the ASV, with its 140-year tradition, is the city's most traditional marksmen's association.

Tradition Meets Modern Elements

What distinguishes the ASV Willich: the combination of strict tradition (historical parade, King's Bird Shooting, marksmen's balls in formal attire) with modern program elements (open air by the pond with DJ/live band). This openness ensures that younger generations can also connect and the club remains dynamic — one of the strengths that secures the ASV its status as the city's most traditional yet most vibrant marksmen's club.