Schützenfest Neuss-Grefrath

Pentecost in Grefrath

The Schützenfest Neuss-Grefrath is one of the traditional marksmen's festivals in the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district. In 2026, the festival runs from May 23rd to 26th (Pentecost weekend) in the Grefrath district of Neuss (postal code 41462). The organizer is the St. Sebastianus Schützenbruderschaft of 1706 — one of the oldest marksmen's associations in the Rhineland with over 300 years of uninterrupted tradition.

The Sebastianus Brotherhood of 1706

The Brotherhood dates back to 1706 — the beginning of the 18th century, when Rhenish marksmen's associations were founded based on the Catholic model. The patron is Saint Sebastianus, the Roman soldier and martyr from the 3rd century, the traditional patron saint of marksmen. The Brotherhood belongs to the Bund der Historischen Deutschen Schützenbruderschaften (Federation of Historical German Marksmen's Associations) and cultivates the typical Rhenish marksmen's culture — characterized by faith, custom, and a sense of home.

Four Days of Pentecost Schützenfest

Like all Rhenish Schützenfeste, Grefrath follows the classic four-day program:

• Saturday, May 23rd — Festival opening, Heimatabend (homeland evening) in the festival tent, honors for deserving club members, march music by pipe bands
• Sunday, May 24th — Main festival day with High Mass, parade through Grefrath, citizens' and plate shooting, evening festival ball with citizens' king crowning
• Monday, May 25th (Pentecost Monday) — Frühschoppen (morning pint), king's shooting, crown prince and regimental king shooting, evening king's ball with crowning of the new king and queen
• Tuesday, May 26th — Coronation ball, festival conclusion, farewell of the reigning majesties

King's Shooting and Coronation

The king's shooting is the highlight of every Schützenfest — the marksmen take turns shooting at the wooden bird on the pole. Whoever shoots the last splinter off the bird becomes king for a year. The Brotherhood crowns a self-chosen queen with him (often his wife). The royal couple represents the Brotherhood at further regional festivals — an honor that is usually remembered within the family.

Grefrath — District in the South of Neuss

Grefrath is a district in southern Neuss, located southwest of the city center. With around 6,000 inhabitants, Grefrath has a village character — its own church (St. Cyriakus), its own club structure, its own sense of identity. Neuss itself, with over 150,000 inhabitants, is one of the largest cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, located directly opposite Düsseldorf on the Rhine. The city is famous for its Neusser Bürger-Schützenfest (Neuss Citizens' Marksmen's Festival) at the end of August/beginning of September — one of the largest Schützenfeste in the world with over a million visitors.

Schützen Landscape Rhein-Kreis Neuss

The Rhein-Kreis Neuss is one of the regions in Germany with the most Schützenfeste. The season runs from spring to late summer; almost every district and village has its own festival. Grefrath is part of this dense network of associations.