Schützenfest Lothe — 150th Anniversary

150 Years of the Lothe Marksmen's Association — A Special Pentecost Festival

In 2026, the Lothe Marksmen's Association looks back on 150 years of club history — the founding year was 1876, right in the middle of the newly created German Empire. The anniversary will be celebrated with the Pentecost Schützenfest from May 22 to 24, 2026 — a festival that is significantly more elaborate than the regular editions. The organizing committee has put together a program that combines Lothe tradition with modern highlights and aims to make the village an attraction for the entire region.

Highlight on Friday Evening — Stereoact and Lena-Marie Engel

The musical coup of the anniversary year: on Friday evening, May 22, 2026, the German DJ and producer duo Stereoact and the singer Lena-Marie Engel will perform in the Lothe marksmen's festival tent. Stereoact is known nationwide for dance hits like “Die immer lacht” (with Kerstin Ott), “Eiskalter Engel,” and several chart successes — the fact that this act is performing at a village Schützenfest is a clear statement of the anniversary's significance. A packed festival tent with guests from all over Lipperland is expected.

2026 Program — Pentecost Weekend

Friday, May 22, 2026

• Opening of the Anniversary Schützenfest
• Traditional torchlight procession through the village
• Honoring of the deceased at the memorial
• Festival tent evening with Stereoact and Lena-Marie Engel as the musical highlight

Saturday, May 23, 2026

• Shooting competition for the title of King
• Grand festive procession with music bands, flag bearers, and club delegations from all over Lipperland
• Proclamation of the new King and Queen
• Festival ball in the tent until late into the night

Sunday, May 24, 2026 (Pentecost Sunday)

• Festival service
• Family program
• Dance and music in the festival tent in the evening

Monday, May 25, 2026 (Whit Monday)

• Morning pint as the traditional start to the festival's conclusion
• Closing party and farewell

The Lothe Rotation with Brakelsiek

A special feature of the marksmen's tradition in this corner of Lipperland: the Schützenfest in Lothe takes place in an annual rotation with the neighboring village of Brakelsiek. In odd-numbered years, Brakelsiek celebrates; in even-numbered years, Lothe does — both clubs thus maintain a neighborhood tradition of over a hundred years, which prevents double bookings and ensures both clubs receive the undivided attention of the Lipperland audience. 2026 is Lothe's year — and the 150th anniversary makes it a particularly significant date.

Lothe — District of Schieder-Schwalenberg

Lothe is a small district of the town of Schieder-Schwalenberg in southwestern Lipperland, on the edge of the Weser Uplands. The town itself has around 8,000 inhabitants, spread across several villages, each with its own club traditions. The region is better known for Schieder Castle and the artists' village of Schwalenberg — Lothe itself is one of the agriculturally characterized villages where the marksmen's tradition is deeply rooted. Also noteworthy: the 2025 annual meeting reached a record with 116 participants, and the Lothe wine festival doubled its visitor numbers in 2025 — the marksmen's association is not only rich in tradition but also vibrant.