Buntes Treiben Oberkassel (Schützenfest and Kirmes)

Bonn-Oberkassel — Bonn's Right-Rhine District

Oberkassel is a right-Rhine district of the federal city of Bonn (Beuel district) in the Rhine-Sieg district corridor between Bonn and the Siebengebirge. With around 11,000 inhabitants, it is manageable, with a strong club structure and a long tradition as a lower-middle-class residential area overlooking the Drachenfels. The annual 'Buntes Treiben' is the most important district festival — Schützenfest, Kirmes, and Volksfest all in one.

JMJ Junggesellen-Schützenbruderschaft 1794

The organizer is the Jesus-Maria-Josef Junggesellen-Schützenbruderschaft Oberkassel 1794 e.V. — founded in 1794, thus over 230 years old and one of the oldest bachelor associations in the Rhineland. In the predominantly Catholic Rhineland, bachelor associations traditionally uphold customs — they organize festivals, symbolic 'funerals', and shape club life. The JMJ Oberkassel is based in the district and organizes the annual Schützenfest.

Festival Grounds Königswinterer Str./Kastellstraße

The festival grounds are the parking lot at Königswinterer Straße, corner of Kastellstraße — centrally located in Oberkassel. Here, the festival tent, fairground rides (carousel, shooting gallery, food stalls), and the traditional 'Vogelstang' are set up. The location, about a 5-minute walk from the Rhine promenade, makes the festival grounds easily accessible — also from the Oberkassel-Bahnhof S-Bahn station.

Program Classics — Raising the Vogelstang, 'Beerdigung'

The program follows the Rhenish bachelor tradition: Friday, August 14, 2026, begins with the ceremonial raising of the 'Vogelstang' — a symbolic act that opens the Schützenfest. Tuesday, August 18, 2026, concludes with the 'Beerdigung' — a symbolic funeral tradition where the Schützenfest is bid farewell (humorous-Catholic custom practiced in many Rhenish bachelor associations).

New in 2026 — Hall Evenings Saturday, Sunday, and Monday

A program expansion starting in 2026: in addition to the classic Schützenfest evenings, there will be hall evenings on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday with dancing and live music in the festival tent with different musical themes, making it more attractive to a younger audience. The new format aims to make the festival more diverse and create appeal beyond JMJ membership.

Bonn 2026 — Cultural-Historical Festival Season

The 'Buntes Treiben' fits into Bonn's 2026 festival season — the federal city celebrates all year round with district festivals in Bad Godesberg, Beuel, Bonn-Mitte, and Hardtberg. Highlights include 'Rhein in Flammen' (Rhine in Flames) in early May, the Bonn Balloon Festival, Pützchens Markt (the largest Rhenish Volksfest) in September, and the Bonnfest.