JSV Erwitte 300-Year Anniversary Schützenfest

JSV Erwitte 1726 — a 300-year-old association

The Jungschützenverein Erwitte 1726 e.V. is one of the oldest marksmen's associations in southeastern Westphalia. In 2026, it celebrates its 300th anniversary — a historic highlight that makes the anniversary edition of the Schützenfest the largest celebratory event in Erwitte's marksmen's history. The anniversary Schützenfest runs from Friday, May 1st, 2026, to Monday, May 4th, 2026, over four days with an expanded program compared to the standard annual Schützenfeste.

Program Lines of an Anniversary Schützenfest

Like all Westphalian Schützenfeste, the anniversary festival follows the traditional schedule but is expanded due to the significance of the anniversary:

• Grand ceremonial act with representatives from the marksmen's federation, the city of Erwitte, and friendly associations
• Parade with the King and Queen, their court, and friendly associations from the district of Soest
• Bird shooting to determine the new King and Queen for 2026/2027
• High Mass in the parish church
• King's Ball as the social highlight
• Festival tent with dance music, live bands, and catering throughout all four days
• Historical exhibition or commemorative publication on the 300-year history of the association

Marksmen's Year 2026 in the District of Soest

Erwitte is not the only marksmen's anniversary in 2026 in the district of Soest: the SB Süddinker (200 years, May 14th–17th), the SV Mellrich-Waltringhausen (430 years, May 15th–18th), and the SB Mawicke (400 years, June 19th–22nd) are also celebrating anniversaries. The anniversary year 2026 makes the district of Soest one of North Rhine-Westphalia's most important marksmen's centers. The District Marksmen's Festival (August 29th, 2026, in Mawicke) and the Regional Marksmen's Festival (September 11th–12th, 2026, in Niederense) are the central supra-regional dates.

Erwitte — a medium-sized town in the Hellweg region

Erwitte is a town with around 16,000 inhabitants in the district of Soest in North Rhine-Westphalia, located in the Hellweg region between Soest and Lippstadt. The town has a long mining and industrial tradition (limestone, cement industry) and a vibrant club life. With its 300-year Jungschützenverein tradition, Erwitte boasts one of the oldest continuously active marksmen's associations in the region — a piece of living Westphalian history.