Schützenfest Neheim (Fest in Neheim)

Largest Schützenfest in the Hochsauerlandkreis

As the summer holidays draw to a close in mid-August, the most important weekend of the year begins in the Arnsberg district of Neheim: the „Fest in Neheim”, officially registered as the Schützenfest of the Schützenbruderschaft St. Johannes Baptist 1607 e.V.. From Friday, August 14th, to Monday, August 17th, 2026, Neheim transforms into the largest Schützenfest venue in the Hochsauerlandkreis.

Tradition Since 1607

With its founding in 1607, the Schützenbruderschaft St. Johannes Baptist 1607 e.V. is one of the oldest marksmen's associations in Westphalia — nearly 420 years of continuous tradition, during which stories of the Thirty Years' War, Prussian annexation, industrial history, and reconstruction have unfolded. Today, the brotherhood, with its companies (Honorary, Youth, and Children's Companies), drives Neheim's community life, organizing pilgrimages, Corpus Christi processions, Good Friday commemorations, and, of course, the main festival in August.

The Parade — Sunday's Highlight

The parade on Sunday is the highlight of the Schützenfest weekend: thousands of locals from the Sauerland region line the streets of Neheim as the companies, accompanied by marching bands, the King and Queen, and their courts, march through the district. The King and Queen of 2024–2026 — Markus Kapsch and Larissa Geck — will be traditionally bid farewell, and the newly elected King and Queen will be proclaimed.

Four Days of Celebration from Friday to Monday

The format follows the Sauerland Schützenfest tradition: Friday, official ceremony and reception; Saturday, the shooting competition to determine the new King; Sunday, the grand parade and gala ball with proclamation; Monday, family day and closing festivities. The festival tent will be active from Friday evening to Monday night — featuring live bands, morning pint gatherings, lively music, and the full spectrum of a traditional Sauerland folk festival.

Commitment Beyond the Festival

The Schützenbruderschaft 1607 sees itself not only as a guardian of tradition but also as a social anchor for the district. In 2026, €5,000 was donated to the youth fire brigade and the local food bank, and the association actively supports the prevention initiative against date-rape drugs in local venues — a modern take on the traditional responsibility of a marksmen's brotherhood.

Neheim — District of Arnsberg, Heart of the Sauerland

With around 22,000 inhabitants, Neheim is the most populous district of Arnsberg (nearly 75,000 total) and is located in the southern Hochsauerlandkreis. It's an industrial location (lighting manufacturing), a shopping destination for the surrounding area, and has been a Schützenfest town for centuries. Anyone wanting to experience the entire Sauerland region in a single weekend will find themselves in the right place in Neheim in August 2026.