Schützenfest Neuss-Grimlinghausen

Schützenfest Grimlinghausen — Tradition on the Rhine riverbank

The Schützenfest Neuss-Grimlinghausen is one of the over one hundred Lower Rhine Schützenfeste in the Rhein-Kreis Neuss (district in North Rhine-Westphalia), which shape social life between May and October. From August 8th to 11th, 2026, the Bürger-Schützen-Verein Neuss Grimlinghausen 1855 e.V. organizes this year's event in its southern home district.

Bürger-Schützen-Verein 1855 — almost two centuries of history

The association was founded in 1855 — at a time when most Lower Rhine shooting clubs emerged in the wake of the Vormärz period and the rise of the bourgeoisie. In 2026, the BSV celebrates its 171st anniversary, standing in an unbroken tradition that significantly shapes the district.

Four days of festivities: Frühschoppen, King's Shooting, Parade

The festival calendar follows the logic of the Rhenish Schützenfest:

• Saturday, August 8th — Festival opening, assembly, reception at the festival tent
• Sunday, August 9th — High Mass, parade through the district, Frühschoppen
• Monday, August 10th — King's bird shooting, coronation of the new King and Queen
• Tuesday, August 11th — Coronation ball and end of the festival

Grimlinghausen — Neuss' southern district on the Rhine

Grimlinghausen is the southernmost district of Neuss (a town belonging to the Rhein-Kreis Neuss district) — located directly on the Rhine riverbank opposite Düsseldorf's Volmerswerth industrial area. The former fishing village is now a closely-knit district with almost 6,000 inhabitants, characterized by brick architecture and the parish church of St. Peter. Here, Lower Rhine village culture meets the proximity of a major city — and the Schützenfest embodies both identities.

Rhenish shooting club culture

The shooting club tradition in the Lower Rhine region differs from Westphalian or Bavarian traditions: it is predominantly Catholic, emphasizes club life over sport shooting, and the King is determined by shooting down a bird (Vogelschuss). The marksmen wear uniforms, march with drum corps and pipe bands — and all local life revolves around the 'Schützen' during these days.