Schützenfest of the Schützengilde Kropp from 1836

A Shooting Guild with Almost 190 Years of History

The Schützengilde Kropp was founded on July 24, 1836, in the municipality, then still part of the Duchy of Schleswig, making it one of the oldest shooting guilds in Schleswig-Holstein. For generations, it has maintained its Schützenfest as a central club event – the annual affirmation of the club's identity and its connection to the village community.

Kropp – a Transport Hub in the Center of the District

The municipality of Kropp is centrally located in the Schleswig-Flensburg district, on federal highway B77 between Rendsburg and Schleswig. With its old town center, St. Stephan's Church, and the traditional shooting guild, it is one of those places where club life continues to be the central pillar of social life.

A Week of Shooting, Not a Day of Shooting

The Kropp Schützenfest is not a one-day event, but extends over more than a week in June with clearly scheduled program points:

• Crowning of the King with bird shooting on the opening weekend
• King's Breakfast on the following day
• Festive Parade and Gildeball as the conclusion

The program is accompanied musically by the Big Band of the Kropp Volunteer Fire Brigade, which has shaped the musical identity of the festival for decades.

Preparations and Tradition

As with many shooting clubs in Schleswig-Holstein, preparation is part of the festival: one week before the main event, members gather to decorate the festival grounds and erect the Gildebaum (guild tree). The Gildebaum remains standing during the festival week and is taken down again at the beginning of July – this too is a traditional, ritualized process.

The Schützenfest as Cultural Heritage

Since 2015, Schützenfeste have been part of Germany's intangible cultural heritage. They are far more than sporting competitions: they combine civic engagement, intergenerational bonds, traditional music (march music by the Big Band), dance culture (Gildeball), and village community. Visitors to the Kropp Schützenfest get to know one of Schleswig-Holstein's living traditions.