Kirmes Hehn — Schützenfest Mönchengladbach-Hehn

Mönchengladbach-Hehn — Western District with Shooting Tradition

Hehn is a district in western Mönchengladbach (Düsseldorf administrative district) — small-town, with its own identity, rich in tradition. In Mönchengladbach, many districts maintain their own shooting fraternities — Hehn, Holt, Günhoven, Beggendorf, and many others. The Hehn Kirmes is one of the most important Schützenfeste in the western part of the city.

St. Michaels Brotherhood 1860 — Over 165 Years of Tradition

The organizer is the St. Michaels Brotherhood 1860 Mönchengladbach-Hehn e.V. — founded in 1860, making it over 165 years old. The brotherhood hosts the annual Schützenfest and is organized in the Catholic-influenced Lower Rhine style as a religious-traditional association: festival mass, patron St. Michael, proclamation of the king, and established customs shape the association's annual rhythm.

Royal Dynasty 2026/27 — Bernd Bihn

The reigning king of the St. Michaels Brotherhood Hehn is Bernd Bihn — he was proclaimed king in 2025 or early 2026. His Brothers Mayor are Nico and Tim Klerx, who, along with him, form the royal household for 2026/27. At the 2026 Schützenfest, this dynasty will be the focus — the festival parade, the King's reception, and the King's Ball will be supported by them.

Hehn Kirmes — Four-Day Format

The 2026 Schützenfest runs for four days, from Friday, June 12, to Monday, June 15. Key program elements in the Lower Rhine Schützenfest format:

• Friday, June 12: Setup day, opening at the festival tent with live music
• Saturday, June 13: Grand festival evening with a dance band, reception of the royal dynasty Bernd Bihn
• Sunday, June 14: Festival mass at 9:00 AM in Hehn's St. Michael's Church, festival parade in the afternoon, King's Ball in the evening
• Monday, June 15: Traditional bird shooting, proclamation of the next king, closing morning pint

Sunday Festival Mass at 9:00 AM

A Lower Rhine tradition: the Schützenfest festival masses are particularly solemn. In Hehn, Sunday begins at 9:00 AM with the festival mass in St. Michael's Church — the patron saint of the association. The pastor, the royal dynasty, and all active shooters participate. The shooters wear their uniforms, and the pastor blesses the royal standards. Afterward, the procession moves together to the festival tent for the morning pint.

Sunday Afternoon Festival Parade

The highlight is the festival parade on Sunday afternoon — the shooting companies, the royal dynasty, marching bands, and music groups parade through the Hehn district. Thousands of spectators line the streets, and the royal dynasty is celebrated. The parade concludes with the King's Ball in the evening.

City Schützenfest and Late Kirmes

Hehn also participates in the Mönchengladbach City Schützenfest (September 5-6, 2026) and the Late Kirmes with the proclamation of the new king (September 25-27, 2026). Those who want to follow Hehn's club life throughout the year will find a packed program with the St. Michaels Brotherhood 1860 — board meetings (e.g., February 26, 2026, 8 PM at Hehner Hof) and Corpus Christi events (June 4, 2026) are also part of the annual schedule.