Pfingstschützenfest Alt-Espelkamp

Pentecost in Alt-Espelkamp — when the village smells of gunpowder and liquorice

Alt-Espelkamp is the old farming village on the outskirts of which the refugee town of Espelkamp was founded in 1949. Its identity defied this late urbanization — and no date makes this as visible as the annual Pfingstschützenfest (Pentecost marksmen's festival). From May 23rd to 25th, 2026, the Schützenverein Espelkamp-Alt (Espelkamp-Alt Marksmen's Club) transforms the traditional festival grounds under Wehebrinks Eichen into a three-day stronghold of East Westphalian marksmen's culture.

Program — Whit-Saturday to Whit-Monday

The marksmen's festival follows the classic Pentecostal triad:

• Whit-Saturday (May 23, 2026) — Opening evening with a marksmen's parade, followed by dancing in the festival tent. Highlight around 10 PM: a grand musical fireworks display, which is known regionally and is regularly recommended on lists like feuerwerk-fanpage.de
• Whit-Sunday (May 24, 2026) — Children's marksmen's festival: small crowning of the youth king, children's games, carousel, sweets, and the obligatory children's bird shooting. A family day par excellence
• Whit-Monday (May 25, 2026) — King's shooting: The male and female marksmen of the company will select the new club king (or queen) by shooting at the bird effigy. Followed by a ceremony, the proclamation of the king, and dancing into the night

The Fireworks — Regionally Famous

The grand fireworks display on Whit-Saturday evening is the main attraction of the festival. Families and amateur photographers come from all over the Minden-Lübbecke district and the adjacent Lower Saxony districts of Diepholz, Vechta, and Osnabrück to experience the light show over Wehebrinks Eichen. It is recommended to arrive well before 9 PM — the access roads fill up quickly.

Wehebrinks Eichen — The Festival Grounds

The festival grounds under Wehebrinks Eichen are an old gathering place on the outskirts of Alt-Espelkamp, characterized by tall oak trees from the 19th century. The traditional festival tent stands among the trees, with carousels, shooting galleries, food stalls, and the bird pole for the king's shooting in front of it. The atmosphere is authentically Westphalian — not a stylized event, but a grown tradition.

Organizers

The organizer is the Schützenverein Espelkamp-Alt (Espelkamp-Alt Marksmen's Club), one of the oldest clubs in the district. The Pfingstschützenfest is its biggest annual event; the program and king proclamations are published on the club's website sv-espelkamp-alt.de and the Facebook page “Pfingstschützenfest Alt-Espelkamp”.

Espelkamp — Young City with an Old History

Espelkamp is one of Germany's youngest cities (city rights 1959), founded on the remnants of a former Wehrmacht ammunition factory. Alt-Espelkamp, on the other hand, is centuries old — and with its Pfingstschützenfest, it is the most tradition-conscious district festival in the city.