Schützenfest BSV Weitmar-Mark and Neuling

BSV Weitmar-Mark and Neuling since 1896

In the south of Bochum, between Weitmar and the border with Hattingen, the Bürgerschützenverein Weitmar-Mark und Neuling 1896 e.V. has shaped club life for almost 130 years. The association unites two old districts — Weitmar-Mark and Neuling — under one roof and holds its Schützenfest in the tradition of Westphalian citizens' shooting associations. In 2026, the club's season, including Biwak, Zapfenstreich, Schützenfest, and King's Shoot, will span several months.

Shooting Season 2026 — Biwak, Schützenfest, King's Shoot

The BSV's shooting season begins on the weekend of July 10–11, 2026, with the traditional Biwak — a casual summer gathering of the shooting family at the club's premises, featuring a campfire, communal meal, and marching music. The highlight is the actual Schützenfest on September 19, 2026, preceded by the Zapfenstreich on September 11 as a military-ceremonial prelude. The season concludes with the King's Shoot on September 12, 2026 — although this takes place before the actual Schützenfest, it is the formal-ceremonial determination of the king.

Biwak — Summer Tradition with Campfire

The BSV Weitmar-Mark's Biwak is an internal club highlight that, according to Bochum-Journal, has recently been held intentionally in a "small circle" — a tradition that brings together club members, their families, and close friends for a relaxed summer weekend. With a campfire, barbecue, marching music, and folk dances, it is the coziest yet most traditional event in the club calendar.

Zapfenstreich — Military Ceremony

The Zapfenstreich on the evening of September 11, 2026, is an old military ceremony maintained in shooting clubs as a festive prelude to major festival weekends. A band, torchbearers, and shooting officials march through the night streets of Weitmar-Mark — a visual and auditory highlight that has been part of the Schützenfest culture in southern Bochum for decades.

Schützenfest and King's Shoot

The actual Schützenfest on Saturday, September 19, 2026, brings together the shooting family and Bochum citizens for a festive parade, a marquee, and a dance evening. The King's Shoot on September 12 determines the new shooting king — a ritual that has been repeated annually since the club was founded in 1896. Accuracy, life experience, and club loyalty are equally important in this tradition.

Weitmar-Mark in Southern Bochum

Weitmar-Mark is part of the Bochum-Wattenscheid district and is located in the south of the city, near the transition to the Niederbergisches Land. The district is characterized by Wilhelminian-era residential areas, single-family home neighborhoods, and established club structures. With its citizens' shooting association, Weitmar-Mark has one of the oldest and most active district clubs in southern Bochum — the Schützenfest is a meeting point for generations and a symbol of community cohesion in the neighborhood.