Schützenfest Neuss-Elvekum

Neuss-Elvekum — Neighbourhood with its own Schützenverein

Neuss, with around 154,000 inhabitants, is the largest city in the Rhein-Kreis Neuss, located opposite Düsseldorf on the left bank of the Rhine — and undisputed the capital of Rhenish Schützenwesen. The annual Neusser Bürger-Schützenfest at the end of August, with around 7,000 active marksmen and hundreds of thousands of visitors, is considered the largest Schützenfest in the world. But Neuss has more than just this one major event — many neighbourhoods and suburbs have their own neighbourhood Schützenfeste. One of these is the festival of the association "Einigkeit" Elvekum 1920 e.V. in the district of Elvekum in northern Neuss.

What makes a neighbourhood Schützenfest special

In contrast to the huge Bürger-Schützenfest with its 50,000 parade spectators, the Elvekum festival is small, intimate, and neighbourly. The festival grounds are manageable, the association members have known each other for decades, and most guests come from the neighbourhood or the surrounding Neuss districts. Anyone who wants to experience Rhenish Schützen culture in its more original, less touristy form will find themselves here.

Three Days of Programme 2026

• Saturday, June 20, 2026 — Festival opening in the afternoon with assembly of the marksmen, salute shots, reception. Evening marksmen's ball in the festival tent with dance music.
• Sunday, June 21, 2026 — Assembly, joint church service or devotion, parade through Elvekum and neighbouring streets with musical accompaniment. Reception at the festival grounds, joint lunch, king's shooting at the bird pole in the afternoon. Coronation and king's ball in the evening.
• Monday, June 22, 2026 — Festival winding down with morning pint, joint meal, and farewell to the reigning monarchs. Tidying up, end of the festival.

The association "Einigkeit" Elvekum 1920 e.V.

The association was founded in 1920 — shortly after the First World War, at a time when many smaller citizens' marksmen's associations were emerging in the Rhineland, often to strengthen neighbourhood ties in a politically uncertain era. The name "Einigkeit" (Unity) is programmatic: the association sees itself as a unifying force in the neighbourhood, with its own clubhouse and a manageable but dedicated membership. Throughout the year, the association holds shooting events, participates in Remembrance Day, the St. Martin's procession, and the annual Schützenfest.

Rhenish Schützenwesen

Unlike the North German Protestant shooting tradition, Rhenish Schützenwesen is Catholic and Volksfest-oriented: High Mass on the festival Sunday, veneration of Saint Sebastian as the patron saint of marksmen, traditional dress and etiquette, close ties to the parish. Larger associations have grenadier corps and historical uniforms, while smaller associations like Elvekum stick to traditional suits and association flags.

Neuss and Rhein-Kreis

For those combining the festival with a day in Neuss: the Neuss city centre with Quirinusmünster and the market square, the port of Neuss, the nearby Düsseldorf Old Town (S-Bahn, 15 min.), or an excursion to Schloss Dyck in Jüchen are worthwhile options.