Schützenfest Bürgerschützengilde Olfen

Bürgerschützengilde Olfen — Active Since 1682

The Bürgerschützengilde Olfen 1682 e.V. is one of the oldest shooting fraternities in the southern Münsterland region. With over 340 years of history, it celebrates its annual Schützenfest as its most important club event. In 2026, the festival runs for four days from Friday, June 12th to Monday, June 15th. A special feature in 2026: the Bürgerschützengilde is launching with a completely new concept on redesigned festival grounds — a historic break from decades of the event's format.

2026 Program — New Conception

The four festival days follow a revised program structure that combines traditional shooting fraternity customs with modern elements:

Friday, June 12th, 2026 — Kick-off

• From 6:00 PM — Gathering at the market square
• Bird Presentation — symbolic start to the bird shooting
• Grand Tattoo (Großer Zapfenstreich) — ceremonial military tradition honoring the king couple

Saturday, June 13th, 2026 — Bird Shooting

• From 3:00 PM — Bird shooting to determine the new king couple
• Proclamation of the new king couple
• Evening: Festival tent program and dance music

Sunday, June 14th, 2026 — Festival Parade

• Festival high mass in the parish church
• Grand festival parade with the new king couple, throne retinue, and friendly fraternities through Olfen
• Evening: Festival tent

Monday, June 15th, 2026 — Wood Auction and Closing

• From 11:00 AM — traditional wood auction (an Olfen shooting tradition that has accompanied the fraternity for centuries)
• Morning pint and winding down of the Schützenfest weekend

Redesigned Festival Grounds

In 2026, the Schützenfest will be held on redesigned festival grounds — a consequence of the revised concept. The new layout aims to enhance the festival atmosphere, create more space for individual program items, and optimize visitor flow. Details about the exact location will be published by the club in May 2026.

Olfen — Small Town in Southern Münsterland

Olfen is a town of around 13,000 inhabitants in the Coesfeld district (North Rhine-Westphalia), located in the southern Münsterland region at the transition to the Ruhr area. With its historic town center, the Stever floodplain, and several nature reserves, Olfen combines rural tranquility with good accessibility. The Bürgerschützengilde 1682 is one of the central club institutions of the town, and the Schützenfest is one of the most important local festivals of the year.