Schützenfest Gehlenbeck 2026 — 90th Birthday

90 Years of Schützenverein Gehlenbeck

The Schützenverein Gehlenbeck e.V. celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2026 — founded in 1936 in the then-independent village of Gehlenbeck, now a district of the Ostwestfalen town of Lübbecke. The anniversary Schützenfest takes place on the weekend of June 9, 2026, on the traditional festival grounds: the Schützenhaus Gehlenbeck at Friedebrinkstraße 5. Nine decades of marksmen's tradition will be celebrated with all the classic elements.

The 2026 Program

Saturday, June 6, 2026 — Parade Muster

6:30 PM: Muster for the parade in Schmiedestraße in Gehlenbeck. Parade through the village, accompanied by the brass band. Parade muster in uniform — the marksmen wear the traditional Gehlenbeck marksmen's attire. Afterwards, opening of the festival tent.

Sunday, June 9, 2026 — 3:00 PM — Main Program

Sunday's main program with the assembly of local and guest clubs. Guest clubs from the neighboring Ostwestfalen communities — representatives from Fabbenstedt, Frotheim, and Offelten are confirmed, and others usually join spontaneously.

Competitions

• Wiehengebirgskönig competition: regional title for the best marksman from the Wiehengebirge clubs
• Junior Marksmen's Championship: for young marksmen under 25 years old
• Children's Shooting Competition: for the youngest with light rifles or air rifles under supervision

Ball from 8:00 PM

Coronation ball in the Schützenhaus with live music. Admission and program details available from the club.

Gehlenbeck in the Wiehengebirge

Lübbecke as a Town

Lübbecke is a town in the Minden-Lübbecke district (North Rhine-Westphalia) with about 26,000 inhabitants. Characterized by its location at the foot of the Wiehengebirge — a low mountain range between Osnabrück and Minden. The Wiehengebirge is a scenically attractive region with hiking trails and forests.

Gehlenbeck as a District

Gehlenbeck is one of Lübbecke's districts. It has a village character with its own identity — its own clubs, its own traditions. The marksmen's club has been the center of village life since 1936. Other Gehlenbeck clubs (sports, music, fire department) strengthen the community network.

Wiehengebirge Marksmen's Tradition

The Wiehengebirgs-Schützen form an association of marksmen's clubs along the Wiehengebirge — from Lübbecke via Espelkamp and Preußisch Oldendorf to Bad Essen. They compete annually for the Wiehengebirgskönig title — a regional title of high prestige.