Avantgarde Marksmen Festival Sandbochum

Sandbochum and its Avantgarde

In the southern part of the city of Hamm, in the Sandbochum district, is the Sandbochum Marksmen's Association — whose Avantgarde is one of the best-known guard units in Hamm's marksmen scene. An "Avantgarde" in the marksmen's tradition is the vanguard, the younger and usually more mobile unit that rides or marches ahead during festive parades.

May 23, 2026 — Summer and Children's Marksmen's Festival

One week before the main festival, the Summer and Children's Marksmen's Festival with Avantgarde Emperor Shoot takes place:

• 3:00 PM — Assembly at the Schützenplatz
• 4:45 PM — Anniversary honors
• 5:30 PM — Avantgarde Emperor Shoot (determining the Avantgarde Emperor)
• 8:00 PM — Proclamation and honors for long-standing members

June 6, 2026 — Avantgarde Marksmen Festival

The actual Avantgarde Marksmen Festival takes place on Saturday, June 6, 2026, starting at 3:00 PM at the Schützenplatz. The focus: the assembly of the Avantgarde, the King Shoot, the celebration with music and dancing, and the gathering with fellow marksmen and guests from the district.

Marksmen's Traditions in Hamm

Hamm and its surrounding area are deeply rooted in the Westphalian-Rhenish marksmen's tradition. Dozens of marksmen's associations in the various districts — from Sandbochum to Heessen, Werries, and Bockum-Hövel — preserve tradition, club life, and intergenerational connections. The Avantgarde Marksmen Festival is one of many highlights of this calendar.

Sandbochum — the District

Sandbochum is a southern district of Hamm, with a rural character, residential areas, club life, and a manageable population of a few thousand inhabitants. The district benefits from the proximity of major Hamm transport routes, but the residential area itself is characterized by a quiet atmosphere. Club life — and especially the marksmen's tradition — gives Sandbochum its social profile.

Hamm — the City with Marksmen's Tradition

Hamm (around 180,000 inhabitants) is the easternmost major city in the Ruhr area. Hamm's marksmen's calendar is packed — there's hardly a weekend in spring and summer without a marksmen's festival in some district. The Avantgarde Marksmen Festival Sandbochum is one of the fixed dates.