Schützenfest Heiden — St. Georgius

Marksmen Tradition in Heiden

The Schützenfest Heiden is the most important event of the General Civil Marksmen's Association St. Georgius Heiden e.V. The Schützenfest season in the western Münsterland is packed — hardly any municipality goes without its own festival — and the Heiden Schützenfest is one of the traditional editions in the Borken district.

Opening on August 8, 2026

The 2026 edition will officially open on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. with traditional cannon shots. They announce the start of the multi-day festival weekend — an acoustic signal that can be heard far and wide in the village center and the surrounding landscape. The actual festival program then begins with a parade, shooting competition, coronation, and several days of marquee festivities.

The Current King and Queen

The reigning King and Queen (Schützen year 2025–2026) are King Andreas Berger and Queen Steffi Tenbült. The honorary King and Queen are Achim Bußkamp and Steffi Rohring. Their successors will be determined during the coronation as part of the Schützenfest — the classic of Westphalian marksmen traditions.

What is a Schützenfest?

The Schützenfest is the most important folk cultural tradition in Westphalia. It combines three elements: a sporting-competitive one (the King's Shoot), a social one (hierarchies, uniforms, parade, coronation), and a folk festival one (marquee, beer, music, dancing). Most associations were founded in the 19th century; the Heiden St. Georgius association follows this tradition.

The Municipality of Heiden

Heiden is a municipality in the Borken district, on the eastern edge of the Münsterland region, with around 8,000 inhabitants. The municipality is characterized by its rural, Catholic nature, has a vibrant club life (marksmen, carnival, football, music), and uses the Schützenfest as its annual highlight. Anyone wanting to experience authentic folk tradition in the western Münsterland is in the right place.

State of North Rhine-Westphalia — Münsterland

The western Münsterland region in North Rhine-Westphalia is one of Germany's Schützenfest strongholds. In the Borken district alone, a dozen Schützenfeste take place in the summer — the Heiden festival joins this family, with the typical mix of tradition, club pride, and marquee atmosphere.