Bürgerschützenfest Warendorf & Heimatfest Mariä Himmelfahrt

Warendorf — City of the Horse and Marian Festival City

Warendorf, with around 38,000 inhabitants, the district town of Warendorf in the southern Münsterland, is known throughout Germany as the City of the Horse — home to the German Olympic Committee for Equestrian Sports, the equestrian sports center of the German Armed Forces, and one of Germany's most important equestrian sports locations. But every year on August 15 (Feast of the Assumption), the town transforms into a different identity: the Heimatfest makes Warendorf the Marian Festival City par excellence, with a festival that uniquely combines Christian tradition, folk festival, and Schützen culture.

The Heimatfest — Three Strands in One Festival

The Heimatfest weaves together three independent traditions:

• Feast of the Assumption — Christian Marian devotion with a festive high mass in St. Laurentius on August 15 and 9 illuminated Marienbogen in the old town
• Bürgerschützenfest — Citizens' marksmen festival of the Bürgerschützenverein Warendorf (since 1841) with King's shooting, festival procession, and marching music
• Kirmes — Classic folk festival fair with rides, stalls, and festival tents

This combination is unique in Germany — festival processions and Schützenfeste are common in many places, but the connection to the Marian High Feast and the city-wide illumination makes Warendorf the "City of Lights for the Feast of the Assumption".

The 9 Marienbogen — The Visual Trademark

Across Warendorf's medieval old town, nine large Marienbogen are erected by August 15 (evening) until the end of the festival: volunteer-built, gigantic arch structures with thousands of light bulbs, each assigned to a different arch society. When the sun sets and the arches light up, thousands of people make a pilgrimage through the streets — the old town becomes a light theater. Additionally, citizens carry small "Bungen" (handheld lights), distributed by the Warendorf Citizens' Foundation — an additional sea of lights at eye level.

Program 2026 — Day by Day

Friday, August 14, 2026 — Theme Night

Opening of the Heimatfest on Friday evening with the theme night "Warendorf meets Spain". Top act: Isi Glück — Ballermann star and one of the best-known German-language Schlager singers in the Mallorca scene. Festival tent atmosphere, Sangria vibe, summer opening with a big stage.

Saturday, August 15, 2026 — Feast of the Assumption

6:00 PM: Festive High Mass in the St. Laurentius Church with the pastor and Bürgerschützen. From approx. 7:30 PM: Illumination of the 9 Marienbogen in the old town — the central visual moment of the festival, attracting thousands of pilgrims and visitors. Concerts and festival tent program until late into the night.

Sunday, August 16, 2026 — Hellebardier Anniversary

During the day: Festival procession, children's festival, and Sunday shopping. 9:00 PM: Grand Zapfenstreich of the Bürgerschützen in the market square. 175 Years of Hellebardiere — the Hellebardier company of the Bürgerschützenverein celebrates its special anniversary this year with its own program item.

Monday, August 17, 2026 — Schützenfest Monday

Highlight of the Schützen tradition: In the morning, muster of the Bürgerschützen at the historic market square, festival procession, and King's shooting in the Emsseepark. The result determines the new Schützenkönig (King) or Schützenkönigin (Queen) and the King and Queen couple for 2026/2027.

Bürgerschützenverein Warendorf — Since 1841

The Bürgerschützenverein Warendorf e.V. was founded in 1841 and is deeply rooted in the city today with its companies (including the Hellebardiere as a historical guard unit with halberds and feather plumes), music corps, and royal history. The reigning King and Queen couple 2025/2026: Kaiser Dirk Bußmann and Queen Ute Bußmann — they represent the club until the new crowning on Schützenfest Monday 2026.

Warendorf as a Travel Destination

Those visiting the Heimatfest should also explore Warendorf beyond the festival: the market square with its half-timbered houses and town hall, St. Laurentius as the main Gothic church, the Horse Museum and Westphalian State Stud, the Emsseepark as a recreational area. For longer stays: the southern Münsterland with Sassenberg, Telgte, Beelen, and Münster (25 min by car) as day trip destinations.