43. Oespel-Kleyer Village & Marksmen's Festival

Marksmen's Club since 1851 — Tradition in Dortmund West

The Bürgerschützenverein Oespel-Kley von 1851 e.V. is one of the oldest associations in Dortmund West. Founded during the Industrial Revolution, it has survived the incorporation of Oespel and Kley into Dortmund in 1928, the structural crisis of the Ruhr area, and all the changes of the 20th century — and is today one of the most vibrant associations in the Lütgendortmund district. The annual village and marksmen's festival is its most important public appearance — and by far the largest district festival in Dortmund West.

Nine Days of Festival Calendar — Festival Instead of Just a Marksmen's Festival

While most marksmen's festivals are planned for 3-4 days, the Oespel-Kleyer Marksmen's Festival lasts nine days — from Saturday, September 5th to Sunday, September 13th, 2026. This extension makes it the longest marksmen's festival in Dortmund and one of the longest in North Rhine-Westphalia. The nine days include:

• King's shootout with proclamation of the King
• Coronation of the Marksmen's King
• Barrel tapping
• Parade through Oespel and Kley
• Amusement rides on the club grounds
• Stage entertainment with cover bands, DJs, and music ensembles
• Village Party — the most anticipated program item for younger festival-goers

The 'Village Party'

What has transformed this marksmen's festival in recent years is the Village Party: a deliberately informal, youthful element that clearly distinguishes the district festival from a pure traditional event. Cover bands, DJ sets, a festival stage setup — the BSV Oespel-Kley has succeeded in staging its marksmen's festival as both traditional and contemporary. This mix makes it the largest district event in Dortmund West.

Club Grounds Brennaborstraße

The venue is the club grounds at Brennaborstraße in the Dortmund district of Oespel — a large open space with capacity for a festival tent, outdoor area for amusement rides, and shooting ranges. The area belongs to the club and is used for club activities all year round; once a year, it transforms into the largest Volksfest (popular festival) in the district.

Who Attends

The audience is diverse: club members and their families, residents from Oespel, Kley, Lütgendortmund, Marten, Bövinghausen — and festival fans from all over Dortmund West and neighboring cities like Castrop-Rauxel and Schwerte. On particularly busy days, several thousand visitors may be present.

Admission €10 (Advance) / €12 (Box Office)

Unlike many marksmen's festivals, the Oespel-Kleyer festival charges admission — typical for events with festival aspirations. €10 in advance, €12 at the box office. Admission is for the entire festival grounds, including the stage program. Amusement rides and refreshments are extra. The pricing structure is well-received in the region: a day-ticket mentality is accepted because the program is extensive enough.