Schützenfest Holvede

Holvede and Surrounding Area Marksmen's Association

Holvede is a small village in the municipality of Hollenstedt in the western Harburg district. The Holvede and surrounding area marksmen's association (Schützenverein Holvede und Umgebung e.V.) is deeply rooted in the village community and unites the marksmen families from the surrounding area. The annual Schützenfest at the end of May is the central date in the club's calendar, bringing together members, friendly clubs, and the village community for four days of festivities.

Gasthaus Heins as a Traditional Meeting Point

The Gasthaus Heins in Holvede is the traditional meeting place for the marksmen's association. The gathering begins here on Thursday evening, from where the procession leads to the festival grounds. The inn thus forms the social center of the association and serves as a point of contact for the board, the royal couple, and marksmen families during the festival.

Four Days of Marksmen's Customs

The festival runs from Thursday to Sunday and follows a proven schedule. Thursday evening: gathering and festival opening; Friday: assembly and festival ceremony; Saturday: bird shooting to determine the new monarchs, king's proclamation, and king's ball; Sunday: morning pint, festival parade, king's dinner, and festival conclusion. This four-day structure is typical for larger North German Schützenfeste and allows for a dense program of shooting, marching, dining, dancing, and socializing.

Breathlessly Through the Marksmen's Year

The Holvede marksmen themselves describe their club life as 'breathlessly through the marksmen's year.' This expresses how packed their annual program is with training shoots, trophy events, competitions, club meetings, and social occasions. The Schützenfest is the annual highlight where all these activities converge.

Embedded in the Municipality of Hollenstedt

The municipality of Hollenstedt includes, in addition to Hollenstedt itself, other smaller communities such as Holvede, Wenzendorf, Drestedt, and Appel. Each of these communities maintains its own local festivals, and the Holvede Schützenfest is one of the characteristic events in the municipality's summer event calendar.