Pentecost and Schützenfest Grefrath

Schützen Tradition since 1706 in Grefrath

Anyone visiting the Neuss district of Grefrath at Pentecost immerses themselves in a Schützen tradition over 300 years old. The St. Sebastianus Schützenbruderschaft of 1706 Grefrath e.V. is one of the oldest brotherhoods in the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district and hosts its Pentecost and Schützenfest every year at Pentecost. From Saturday, May 23 to Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the festival grounds on Lüttenglehner Straße will become the center of village life — with a festival tent, Pentecost funfair, festival parade, and celebratory Schützen life.

Four Days of Pentecost Funfair on the Lower Rhine

Parallel to the Schützenfest, the Pentecost funfair runs with rides, stalls, and food stands. Reviews from the funfair forum mention attractions for the coming years such as the House Party ride (Weber) and the Virtual Movie Shuttle 5D — modern funfair classics that appeal equally to families, youth, and adult audiences. The funfair is organized by the city of Neuss, while the Schützenbruderschaft is responsible for the traditional Schützen life in the festival tent.

King's Shooting, Muster, and Parade

The highlight of the Schützen festivities is traditionally the king's shooting, where the new Schützen king or royal couple is determined. Throughout the festival days, there are morning pint gatherings, muster of the Schützen groups, high mass, coronation ball, and the parade through Grefrath. The Sebastianus brotherhood is accompanied by the traditional brass band and fife and drum corps — a resounding symbol of the close interweaving of faith, homeland, and conviviality, typical of the Rhenish Schützen tradition for centuries.

Festival Tent and Family Atmosphere

In the large festival tent on the grounds at Lüttenglehner Straße, dance bands and cover bands play throughout the Pentecost days; during the day, the morning pint with brass music and Lower Rhine cuisine invites you to linger. The family day at the funfair is particularly intended for families: carousels, Ferris wheel, candy stalls, and children's rides at reduced prices make Grefrath a Pentecost excursion destination in the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district.

District Festival of the Kempen District Association 2026

A special feature of the 2026 Pentecost season in Grefrath: On Saturday, May 30, 2026, exactly one week after the Pentecost festival, the Sebastianus Brotherhood Grefrath will host the district festival of the Kempen e.V. district association. On this day, dozens of neighboring brotherhoods from the Lower Rhine will gather in Grefrath for a parade, formation of ranks, and joint high mass — a second major Schützen weekend for the district.

Grefrath in the Rhein-Kreis Neuss District

Grefrath is a district of Neuss in the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district in North Rhine-Westphalia, located in the west of the city near the A 57 motorway. With around 2,000 inhabitants, Grefrath has retained its village character — the Schützenfest at Pentecost is much more than a folk festival here: it is lived tradition that connects generations and shapes the collective identity of the district.