Schützenfest Düsseldorf-Gerresheim (St. Sebastianus 1427)

Marksmen's Tradition since 1427

Few marksmen's clubs in Germany can look back on such a long history: The St. Sebastianus Schützenbruderschaft Gerresheim 1427 already has the year of its founding in its name. With almost 600 years of uninterrupted tradition, it is not only one of the oldest associations in the Rhineland but in all of Germany. What began in the late Middle Ages as a spiritual brotherhood with a shooting duty to protect the Gerresheim district has today become a vibrant citizens' marksmen's club, whose annual Schützenfest has been a fixed date in Düsseldorf's festival calendar for centuries.

Four Days of Festivities from June 5th to 8th, 2026

The 2026 Schützenfest spans four days — from Friday, June 5th, to Monday, June 8th, 2026. This places it in Düsseldorf's peak Schützenfest season, during which almost every citizens' marksmen's association in the city has its own festival week. The schedule follows the tried-and-tested Rhenish tradition: Friday opening with assembly and dance evening, Saturday King's shooting and coronation ball, Sunday festive service and King's parade through Gerresheim, Monday festive procession and closing with dance.

King's Parade and Citizens' Shooting

The highlight of a Düsseldorf Schützenfest is traditionally the King's Parade on Sunday afternoon, during which the entire association lines up before the King and Queen in a strictly choreographed marching formation. Drum and bugle corps and the mounted detachment turn the spectacle into a show worth seeing. In Gerresheim in 2026, the parade will be accompanied by a small but special show interlude — according to ddorf-aktuell.de, there was already a surprise show interlude in 2025 for the reigning King's 75th birthday.

Düsseldorf-Gerresheim — Historical District

Gerresheim is one of Düsseldorf's oldest districts — the Stift Gerresheim (founded 870) existed here even before the city of Düsseldorf was founded. The Basilica of St. Margareta bears witness to this tradition, as do the remnants of the medieval city wall. The St. Sebastianus Association is part of this over 1000-year-old district history. With its approximately 32,000 inhabitants, Gerresheim today forms Düsseldorf's southeastern district on the transition to the Düssel river and the Eller district.

Marksmen's Associations in the Rhineland

Rhenish marksmen's associations are deeply culturally rooted in North Rhine-Westphalia. Unlike in many other federal states, they combine church-religious tradition (spiritual brotherhood, patronage of Saint Sebastian) with the history of civic defense and today's club life. Düsseldorf, with over 20 historical associations, has one of the densest marksmen's structures in NRW — the Gerresheim Sebastianus Association is the second oldest after the St. Sebastianus Schützenbruderschaft Düsseldorf founded in 1316.