Erftstadt Schützenfest Lechenich

St.-Sebastianus-Schützenbruderschaft Lechenich

The St.-Sebastianus-Schützenbruderschaft Lechenich is one of the traditional marksmen's brotherhoods in the Erft district. Its patron saint is St. Sebastian — the patron saint of marksmen, depicted with arrows — who is present as an identifying figure on club logos, banners, and medals. The club's life is closely linked to the Catholic parish of Lechenich; the parish patron is St. Kilian (feast day July 8), and the Schützenfest traditionally falls on the weekend after this patronal feast.

2026 — July 10 to 12 (Sat–Mon)

The 2026 Schützenfest runs from Friday/Saturday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12 (or Sat–Mon, depending on the club's calendar — confirmed: 2nd weekend of July around July 8, the patronal feast of St. Kilian). Classic three-day Rhenish-Catholic format:

• Friday/Saturday, July 10 — Festival opening with tapping of the keg, marksmen's mass in St. Kilian's Parish Church, festival evening
• Sunday, July 11 — Solemn high mass, morning pint (Frühschoppen), parade of all companies with the royal couples of friendly brotherhoods, coronation ball with live band
• Monday, July 12 — Morning pint (Frühschoppen), ladies' breakfast, festival finale

King's Shoot and Club Life

As with all Rhenish-Catholic Schützenfests, the King's Shoot is the central club ritual: candidates alternately shoot at the wooden bird effigy; the winner becomes the new Schützenkönig (King) and represents the brotherhood for one year. In addition, there are competitions in various categories (Youth King, Queen, Vice-King). The club is divided into several companies — young marksmen, ladies' company, main companies — each with its own festival evenings.

Free Admission — A Rare Special Feature

A special feature of the Lechenich Schützenfest is the free admission to all events — parade, festival evenings, coronation ball. This deliberate decision by the brotherhood keeps the barrier to entry low for visitors and emphasizes its character as a people's festival (Volksfest) for all residents of Lechenich, not just club members.

Lechenich — the Castle Town on the Erft

Lechenich is the main town of Erftstadt in the Rhein-Erft district, with a total population of about 52,000. In the Middle Ages, Lechenich was an important Electoral Cologne castle town — the castle ruins and the historic market square still shape the town today. Located in the commuter belt of Cologne, the town offers proximity to the big city on the one hand and a vibrant club life with a village character on the other. The Schützenfest is one of the fixed dates in the Erftstadt annual calendar.