Schützenfest Brakel — Bürger-Schützenverein von 1567

More than 450 years of Brakel marksmen's tradition

Founded in 1567, the Brakel Bürger-Schützenverein is one of the oldest marksmen's associations in the Hochstift Paderborn. For centuries, its marksmen's festival has been the most important social event in the town — and you can feel it: when the marksmen march through the town center in full uniform at the end of June, the whole of Brakel lines the streets.

Four days of Brakel festival tradition

The 2026 marksmen's festival runs from June 25th to 28th. It follows a schedule proven over generations:

• Thursday, June 25th — Grand Tattoo on Brakel Market Square at 9 p.m., traditional concert
• Friday, June 26th — Military parade, honoring of 50-year members, entry of the King and Queen with subsequent dance
• Saturday, June 27th — Children's marksmen's shoot, second King's dance and ball
• Sunday, June 28th — Festival breakfast, battalion muster, proclamation of the new King and Queen

Note: The actual festival Sunday, with mustering on the market square at 9:15 a.m., a church service, and the ceremonial shoot, marks the traditional highlight.

Marksmen's Breakfast — Advance Sales in May

An important innovation for 2026: Admission bands for the marksmen's breakfast will be sold in advance for the first time. Advance sales from May 1st to June 15th, 2026, at the companies Tensi and Willi Lange, as well as via the individual company leaders. Background: The Brakel marksmen's breakfast is traditionally in high demand — advance sales reduce waiting times on festival Sunday and help prevent food waste.

Hochstift Paderborn — The "Marksmen's Heart" of Westphalia

Brakel is located in the Höxter district in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the historic Hochstift Paderborn. The region is famous for its marksmen's tradition: marksmen's festivals in Brakel, Höxter, Borgentreich, Beverungen, Marienmünster, Steinheim, Nieheim — hardly a municipality without its own brotherhood. Due to its age and size, the Brakel festival is one of the most important events in this series.

Brakel Market Square — The Festival Stage

The historic Brakel Market Square, with its town hall, the Roland fountain, and the half-timbered buildings, is the center of all festival events. The Grand Tattoo on Thursday evening, the muster on Sunday morning, the King's proclamation on Sunday afternoon — everything takes place on this listed stage.