Rheurdter Pfingstkirmes and Schützenfest

Pentecost in Rheurdt

The Rheurdter Pfingstkirmes is the most important Volksfest (folk festival) in the municipality of Rheurdt on the Lower Rhine. It takes place annually on the Pentecost weekend — in 2026 from Friday, May 22 to Whit Monday, May 25, 2026. The main venue is the Rheurdt Market Square with a large festival tent. The local Schützenverein (marksmen's association) is the organizer in close cooperation with the Rheurdt Tourist Association.

4 Days, 4 Focuses

Friday, May 22 — Festival Opening

• From 7:00 PM: Civic reception and opening in the festival tent
• Party night with DJ and live music

Saturday, May 23 — Marksmen's Day

• From 2:30 PM: Muster of the Schützenbruderschaft (marksmen's brotherhood)
• King's shooting and coronation ceremony
• Parade with marching bands through Rheurdt
• Evening dance

Whit Sunday, May 24 — Marksmen's Mass + Chain of Office Handover

• Morning: Marksmen's mass in the parish church
• From 4:45 PM: Chain of office handover — ceremonial transfer of the chain of office to the new king
• Grand evening celebration

Whit Monday, May 25 — Family Day

• From 12:30 PM: Family program
• Kirmes (funfair) family prices
• Grand parade in the afternoon
• Closing ceremony with Zapfenstreich (military tattoo)

Tradition and Significance

The Pfingstkirmes combines three traditions:

• Pfingstvolksfest — old Christian-agrarian tradition on the Pentecost weekend
• Schützenfest with king's shooting and coronation ceremony
• Local and Civic Festival with marching bands and parade

In the Catholic Lower Rhine region, Pentecost is a traditional date for Schützenfeste because the weather is usually mild, spring is reaching its peak, and three days off (including Whit Monday) allow for parades and family programs.

Rheurdt on the Lower Rhine

Rheurdt is a rural municipality with just under 7,000 inhabitants in the Kleve district, in western North Rhine-Westphalia — located between Krefeld and Geldern. The region is characterized by agricultural tradition (asparagus, strawberries, livestock) and active club life. The Pfingstkirmes is one of the most important civic events of the year and an anchor of the community's identity.