Kempener Schützenfest — Alte Allgemeine, 1. Kompanie

Kempener Schützenfest — four days of tradition at the Bogenstraße fairground

In the Lower Rhine town of Kempen, the center of the Viersen district, the Schützenwesen (shooting fraternity) has deep roots. From June 4 to 7, 2026, the Alte Allgemeine Bürgerschützengesellschaft Kempen, together with its 1st Company, will celebrate its grand Schützenfest at the Bogenstraße fairground. Four days of Rhineland customs, parades, king's shooting, coronation ball, and beer garden atmosphere — framed by the historic St. Cyriakus Church in the town center.

Program at a glance — four days, four characters

Thursday, June 4, 2026 — Setup & Opening Evening

• 6:00 PM — Tent setup at the Bogenstraße fairground
• 7:00 PM — Beer evening at the Rathausschänke, traditional start
• Following: Opening Party with DJ Driessen (“Mallorca meets Festival Sounds”)

Friday, June 5, 2026 — Ceremony & Church Service

• Morning: Frühschoppen / Brunch
• 4:00 PM — Assembly and procession to St. Cyriakus Church
• Church service and solemn ceremony
• Evening: Festival tent program

Saturday, June 6, 2026 — Royal Couple Reception & Ball

• 10:30 AM — Frühschoppen at the festival tent
• 4:45 PM — Reception of the Royal Couple
• 7:00 PM — Grand Royal Ball with live music and dancing

Sunday, June 7, 2026 — King's Shooting & Coronation Ball

• 7:30 AM — Communal breakfast
• 10:00 AM — King's Shooting: the traditional bird shooting, where the new shooting king is determined
• Parade and proclamation of the king
• 7:00 PM — Coronation Ball with the crowning of the new royal couple

Alte Allgemeine Bürgerschützengesellschaft Kempen

The Alte Allgemeine Bürgerschützengesellschaft Kempen is the town's traditional shooting society and is divided into several companies. The 1st Company organizes the Schützenfest at the Bogenstraße fairground — a central event in Kempen's club year and one of the busiest days of the summer for the town.

Bogenstraße Fairground — the Schützen location

The Bogenstraße fairground is located in close proximity to Kempen's historic town center. The large festival tent is erected on the grounds, with adjoining beer and food stands. The distances between the fairground, the market square, and St. Cyriakus Church are short — the entire historic center of Kempen becomes a Schützen stage during the festival.

St. Cyriakus Church — the spiritual center

The St. Mariä Geburt with the historic St. Cyriakus Chapel is Kempen's main church and has always been the center of the religious dimension of the Schützenfest. The church service on Friday afternoon is one of the most important program elements, expressing the Catholic-Rhineland shooting tradition.

Kempen — Hanseatic City on the Lower Rhine

The town of Kempen is located in the western Viersen district, on the edge of the Lower Rhine between Krefeld and Venlo. With around 35,000 inhabitants, Kempen is compact but has remarkable historical substance — city walls, a medieval castle gate, and half-timbered houses in the town center. The town is firmly anchored in the Schützenwesen; several companies and fraternities shape club life.