Schützenfest Eckenhagen

Marksmen Tradition Since 1857

The Allgemeine Schützengesellschaft 1857 e.V. zu Eckenhagen is one of the oldest and most populous marksmen's clubs in the Oberbergisches Land. The annual Schützenfest on the Eckenhagen festival grounds is the highlight of the club's year and, at the same time, the big summer festival for the entire municipality of Reichshof.

Date and Festival Schedule 2026

The main festival runs from June 20 to 22, 2026 (Saturday to Monday) on the Eckenhagen festival grounds, with preliminary rounds for the King's Shoot already on Monday, June 15, 2026.

• Monday 15.6.: Preliminary rounds for King's Shoot (in the club hall)
• Saturday 20.6.: Opening of the Schützenfest, reception of guest clubs, dance evening in the festival tent
• Sunday 21.6.: Morning pint, traditional parade through Eckenhagen, crowning ball in the evening
• Monday 22.6.: Schützenkirmes (fairground), family day, winding down at the festival tent

King's Shoot and Crowning

As with all Rhineland-Westphalian Schützenfeste, the King's Shoot is at the center. The preliminary rounds on Monday 15.6. determine the finalists; the final shoot decides who will be King/Queen 2026/27. The crowning with the King's Ball follows on Sunday evening in the festival tent with a live dance band.

Festival Tent with Live Music and Fairground

Live bands or dance orchestras play in the large festival tent on several evenings (classic mood music, cover bands). In front of and around the tent stretches the Schützenkirmes with carousels, shooting galleries, food stalls, candy stands, and showman attractions — especially visited by many children on the family day Monday.

Parade on Sunday

On Sunday morning or afternoon (depending on the program), the traditional parade winds through Eckenhagen — with a marching band, marksmen's companies, the King and Queen in an open carriage, guest clubs, and floats. Residents decorate houses and front yards, spectators line the streets.

Reichshof and Eckenhagen

Reichshof is a sprawling municipality in the Oberbergisches Kreis with around 19,000 inhabitants — the easternmost tip of the Bergisches Land, transitioning into the Westerwald mountain range. Eckenhagen is by far the largest and most touristically known town, with the Aggertalsperre reservoir and the Monkey and Bird Park in close proximity. The Schützenfest brings together Eckenhagen residents and guests from the entire Reichshof holiday region.