Schützenfest Kesbern

Shooting Tradition in Southern Iserlohn

The Schützenfest Kesbern is the traditional club festival of the Bürger-Schützenvereins Kesbern e.V. and, at the same time, the largest village festival in the Kesbern district of Iserlohn. From Friday, August 28 to Monday, August 31, 2026, the Hegenscheid airfield will be transformed into a four-day marquee stage with all the elements of a classic Sauerland Schützenfest.

Hegenscheid Airfield

The venue is the Hegenscheid Airfield at Hegenscheider Straße 8, 58644 Iserlohn — a spacious meadow area in the idyllic Sauerland mountains south of the city. The open location allows for the construction of a large marquee with several hundred seats and space for outdoor areas, the bird shooting range, and parking lots.

Program Classics

• Friday evening — Marquee opening with live band, welcome of the reigning king and queen
• Saturday — Schützen parade through Kesbern, king's shooting at the bird effigy, followed by a grand Schützenball with a dance band until late into the night
• Sunday — Festival service, lunch in the marquee, morning pint with brass music
• Monday — Family day, traditional closing with the crowning of the king

Every Two Years

The Schützenfest Kesbern takes place every two years — a tradition that is common in many Sauerland Schützenvereins. Between the major festivals, the Bürger-Schützenverein maintains year-round club life with practice shooting, camaraderie evenings, and anniversaries.

Kesbern and the Shooting Tradition in the Sauerland

Kesbern is one of the southernmost districts of Iserlohn and lies at the transition to the Hochsauerland. The shooting tradition is deeply rooted throughout the Sauerland region — almost every village has its own Schützenverein. The Kesbern festival is part of a dense tradition and attracts visitors from the neighboring communities of Hemer, Letmathe, and the entire Iserlohn region.