Bürgerschützenfest Vreden

Vreden — Shooting Club Tradition in the Westmünsterland

The Bürgerschützenfest Vreden is the most important annual event of the Allgemeine Bürgerschützenverein St. Georg e.V. Vreden — one of the central shooting club associations in the town in western Münsterland, directly on the Dutch border. The festival takes place from August 22 to 24, 2026, in the Stadtpark Vreden — the central green festival grounds in the heart of the town.

11 Shooting Clubs in Vreden in 2026

With 11 active shooting clubs, Vreden is one of the richest towns in Westphalia for shooting festivals. Various city districts, rural communities, and associations celebrate their own shooting festivals throughout the season. The Bürgerschützenfest of the Allgemeine Bürgerschützenverein St. Georg is one of the most important — a central, city-wide event in the Stadtpark.

2026 King Couple — Already Chosen

At the 2025 shooting festival, the new majesties for the 2025/2026 season were crowned:

• King 2026: Ewald Hollekamp
• Queen 2026: Elisabeth van den Berg

The couple leads the court and is the official representation of the club throughout the festival year — until the new King couple for 2026/2027 is determined at the 2026 King's Shoot.

Program — Three Days of Shooting Festival

Saturday, August 22, 2026

• Festival Tent Opening in the Stadtpark
• Zapfenstreich (Last Post ceremony) and assembly of club departments
• Grand Shooting Club Ball in the evening with live music

Sunday, August 23, 2026

• Grand Parade through Vreden's city center
• King's Coronation Ceremony for the couple Hollekamp/van den Berg
• Festival Evening in the festival tent

Monday, August 24, 2026

• King's Shoot at the Vogel (target bird) — selection of the new King couple 2026/2027
• Coronation of the new majesties
• Festive Conclusion with catering and dancing

Stadtpark Vreden — The Festival Grounds

The Stadtpark Vreden is the green heart of the town — a park and recreational area that offers the ideal backdrop for major events like the Bürgerschützenfest. The festival tent, the Vogelstange (target pole) for the King's Shoot, catering, and ample space for hundreds of shooters and thousands of guests come together here. Its location in the heart of Vreden makes it easily accessible on foot from most parts of the city.

Vreden — The Town on the Dutch Border

Vreden (around 23,000 inhabitants) is located in the Borken district, directly on the border with the Netherlands. The town has a long history as a market town and religious center of the Westmünsterland region; with the St. Felicitas Collegiate Church and the kult Westmünsterland (local history museum), Vreden boasts remarkable cultural institutions. The proximity to the Dutch border also brings cross-border visitor flows — especially during major events like the Bürgerschützenfest.

The St. Georg Tradition

The Allgemeine Bürgerschützenverein St. Georg bears the name of the patron saint of shooters — Saint George, the dragon slayer. This choice of patron is widespread in the Münsterland and Sauerland regions and underscores the shooting club's Catholic roots, even though modern clubs have long been open to all denominations.