Schützenfest Hovestadt — Schützenbruderschaft Hovestadt-Nordwald

Hovestadt and its Schützenbruderschaft

In the west of the Soest district lies the municipality of Lippetal — and there, in the Hovestadt district along the Lippe river, is the Schützenbruderschaft Hovestadt-Nordwald. Every year at the end of June, they host their grand Schützenfest — three days of Westphalian tradition at the Sportpark Hovestadt, which is transformed into a festival ground for the weekend.

June 27-29, 2026 — Three Days at the Sportpark

The 2026 event runs from Saturday, June 27th to Monday, June 29th, 2026. The schedule follows Westphalian Schützen tradition:

• Saturday — Opening ceremony, parade of the Schützen through Hovestadt, opening of the festival tent with live music late into the night
• Sunday — Communion service, King's Shooting to determine the new Schützenkönig (King), coronation of the King and Queen, King's Ball in the evening
• Monday — Morning pint, children's Schützenfest, family day, winding down

King and Queen 2025/26 — Christian and Birgit Steinhoff

The current King and Queen Christian and Birgit Steinhoff reign over the Schützenbruderschaft Hovestadt-Nordwald for the 2025/26 season — and will determine their successors at the 2026 King's Shooting. The King and Queen hold more than just a symbolic title in the Schützenwesen (marksmen's guild world): they represent the club at festivals, coordinate club activities, and provide a visible face for a close-knit community.

Festival Tent at the Sportpark

The festival tent is located at the Sportpark Hovestadt — at the edge of Hovestadt heading towards Nordwald. The spatial separation from residential areas allows for live music late into the night without disturbing the neighbours. The festival tent can accommodate several hundred guests — on the King's Shooting Sunday and at the King's Ball, residents and Schützen celebrate shoulder to shoulder.

Westphalian Schützen Tradition

Schützenvereine (marksmen's clubs) shape rural Westphalia like few other institutions. In the Soest district alone, there are dozens of Schützenbruderschaften, each with its own traditions, uniforms, and festival calendar. The Schützenbruderschaft Hovestadt-Nordwald is one of the more active ones in the region — well-connected with neighbouring clubs and deeply rooted in its district. The Schützenfest is THE highlight of the club's calendar.

Lippetal — The Municipality on the Lippe

The municipality of Lippetal was formed in 1969 through the merger of several small villages along the Lippe river — Herzfeld, Hovestadt, Lippborg, Oestinghausen, and others. With around 12,000 inhabitants, Lippetal is a classic rural collection municipality in the Soest district. Hovestadt is located in the west of the municipality, characterized by Hovestadt Castle and its agricultural tradition.