Schützen- und Volksfest Windberg/Großheide – Bürgerschützenverein 1957

Schützen- und Volksfest in the Mönchengladbach District

In the Mönchengladbach district of Windberg/Großheide, the traditional Schützen- und Volksfest (shooting and folk festival) will be celebrated from July 24 to 27, 2026. The organizer is the Bürgerschützenverein Windberg/Großheide 1957 e.V. – a shooting club with a long tradition, whose club life is firmly anchored in the identity of the district. Free admission, daily from 2 PM.

Annastraße as Festival Grounds

The festival grounds are Annastraße between Annakirchstraße and Königsberger Straße, as well as the adjacent green area. This turns a secluded area of the district into a festival mile – festival tent, bird pole, stalls, stage. Its location in the town center makes the festival easily accessible on foot and family-friendly.

Four Days of Program Friday to Monday

The festival runs for four days with the following schedule:

• Friday, July 24, 2026 – Festival opening, assembly, opening party
• Saturday, July 25, 2026 – Bird shooting preparations, dance evening
• Sunday, July 26, 2026 – Festival parade, bird shooting, crowning
• Monday, July 27, 2026 – Family day, morning pint, closing

Bird Shooting and Crowning

The bird shooting is the highlight of every Schützenfest. Whoever knocks the bird off the pole becomes the shooting king (in some clubs, also queen) and represents the club for the following years. The crowning is celebrated with a festival parade, king proclamation, and coronation ball.

Stage Program and District Atmosphere

On the festival stage, dance bands, local bands, and children's acts alternate. The festival is a classic district Schützenfest – not large-scale commercial, but deeply rooted in the local civil society. Those who want to discover Mönchengladbach beyond the city center will find authentic local life here.

Company Bird Shooting Already on June 27

The main festival date in July is complemented by a preliminary company bird shooting on June 27, 2026. Here, the individual companies determine their representatives for the main festival. This spreads the preparation for the festival week over several weeks.

Mönchengladbach and Windberg/Großheide

Mönchengladbach, with almost 270,000 inhabitants, is one of the major cities in West Germany. The city consists of districts and neighborhoods – Windberg and Großheide are two small but identity-strong quarters in the western part of the city. The Schützen- und Volksfest is one of the district festivals that traditionally unite the residents here.

Travel and Program 2026

Arrival by public transport: Bus lines from Mönchengladbach Hbf to Windberg. By car via A52 or A57. Detailed program points and registration via the club website schwaatlapp.de.