Schützenfest der Feldbauern Nordwalde

The Feldbauern of Nordwalde

The Dionysius Schützenbruderschaft der Feldbauern e.V. is one of the traditional marksmen's clubs in the Westmünsterland municipality of Nordwalde (Steinfurt district). The name refers to the club's agricultural tradition — farmers from the surrounding farms joined forces generations ago to form the brotherhood, placed under the protection of St. Dionysius. The annual Schützenfest is the highlight of the club's year.

Main Festival 2026 — July 18 to 20

The Main Festival 2026 runs from Saturday, July 18 to Monday, July 20, 2026. The classic three-day rhythm of a Westphalian Schützenfest:

• Saturday, July 18: Festival opening, King's bird shoot, dance evening in the festival tent
• Sunday, July 19: Marksmen's mass, traditional procession through Nordwalde, coronation ball in the festival tent
• Monday, July 20: Helpers' Festival as thanks to all helpers, cozy end of the festival

Children's Marksmen's Festival on June 20

As with many Westphalian marksmen's clubs, the Feldbauern also organize a separate Children's Marksmen's Festival — on Saturday, June 20, 2026, one month before the main festival. Venue: Hof Heitmann, one of the traditional farms of the Feldbauern marksmen.

The Children's Marksmen's Festival is part of the brotherhood's youth development — children get to know the marksmen's traditions, gain confidence in the marksmen, and often become members themselves later.

Star Marches to Friendly Brotherhoods

A Westphalian marksmen's tradition: Star Marches — a joint march by the brotherhood to the festivals of friendly clubs in the area. Two dates are set for 2026:

• Saturday, May 30, 2026: Star march to the Kolping Marksmen's Brotherhood Emsdetten
• Saturday, July 11, 2026: Star march to the Jakobi Brotherhood Altenberge-Nienberge

On these occasions, the Feldbauern march in full uniform to the friendly clubs — usually on foot or by bus — and participate in their procession.

Festival Tent, Bird Shoot, Procession

The main festival follows the classic choreography of a Westphalian Schützenfest:

• King's bird shoot on Saturday — determining the new king
• Marksmen's mass on Sunday morning — festive church service with the brotherhood
• Procession on Sunday afternoon — through Nordwalde town center with a marching band, marksmen's companies, the royal couple, festival floats, and guest clubs
• Coronation ball on Sunday evening in the festival tent with a live dance band

Nordwalde

Nordwalde is a rural municipality with around 9,000 inhabitants in the Steinfurt district, northwest of Münster. The agricultural tradition shapes the town's image to this day. Several marksmen's clubs are active — the Feldbauern represent the members with an agricultural background, while other brotherhoods have different historical roots.