Schützenfest Himmelpforten

Himmelpforten Marksmen's Club — Tradition and Present

The Himmelpforten Marksmen's Club is one of the most traditional clubs in the municipality. With over 120 Schützenfest editions in its recent history, the club looks back on a very long tradition. The club is not only active in sports but also a central pillar of village community life and one of the main players in the club scene of Himmelpforten.

Oldendorf-Himmelpforten and the Municipality

Oldendorf-Himmelpforten is a municipality in the Stade district. Himmelpforten is one of the two main villages and is home to the former Himmelpforten monastery, which gives the village its name and is the root of its identity. The municipality is located in the western part of the Stade district, near the Oste, a tributary of the Elbe.

Three Days of Celebration in Early June

The Schützenfest spans three days, from Friday to Sunday. In early June, it is one of the first major marksmen's festivals of the Stade summer, thus marking the region's season opener. In previous years, the festival has always taken place in early June (2025: June 6-8, 2024: 122nd edition).

Attractive Festival Grounds with Dodgems

The Himmelpforten festival grounds are equipped extensively for the Schützenfest. Dodgems—one of the classic and still most popular rides today—are a highlight. In addition, there is a marquee for dance evenings and the festival program, other rides and children's carousels, as well as numerous food and sweet stalls. The festival grounds concept impresses with its variety and family-friendliness.

Marksmen's Tradition and Proclamation of the King

The internal highlight for the club is the king shooting to determine the new majesties. The proclamation of the king, with the handover of the king's chain and club regalia, is a moving moment for the marksmen's club and the village community. The new majesties represent the club for one year and participate in parades of friendly clubs.

Parade and Dance Evenings

The traditional parade leads through Himmelpforten, accompanied by fife and drum corps, music bands, and friendly marksmen's clubs from the region. The dance evenings in the marquee with live music and DJs attract a broad audience. A family day with a children's king shooting rounds off the program.