Schützenfest Neuss-Weckhoven

Schützenfest Weckhoven — 163-year tradition

The Schützenfest Neuss-Weckhoven will be hosted from June 13th to 16th, 2026 by the Schützenverein von 1863 Weckhoven e.V. Four festival days with opening ceremony, king's parade, king's shooting, and coronation ball in the southwestern district of Neuss combine centuries-old marksmen tradition with contemporary district life. 2026 marks the 163rd anniversary since the association's founding.

Weckhoven — District with a village character

The district of Weckhoven is located in the southwest of Neuss — surrounded by agricultural land but well connected to the city. With almost 6,000 inhabitants, Weckhoven has largely retained its village character: close-knit community, lively club life, intact neighborhood structures. The marksmen's festival fits perfectly into this environment — it is more of a village festival than a big city event.

Schützenverein 1863 — Tradition since the 19th century

The association is one of the Lower Rhine marksmen's associations that emerged in the 1860s during the bourgeois movement. Over 163 years of association history make the Schützenverein 1863 one of the oldest institutions in the district — comparable only to the parish and the school.

Four festival days — classic choreography

The program follows the logic of the Rhenish marksmen's festival:

• Saturday, June 13th — Festival opening, assembly of the marksmen
• Sunday, June 14th — High mass, morning pint, parade
• Monday, June 15th — King bird shooting, coronation
• Tuesday, June 16th — Coronation ball and festival conclusion

Rhenish marksmen's traditions in the Rhein-Kreis Neuss

The Rhein-Kreis Neuss is one of the most densely populated marksmen's regions in Germany. From May to October, over a hundred marksmen's festivals take place here — almost every weekend in a different district or municipality. The Lower Rhine marksmen's traditions differ from Westphalian or Bavarian traditions through their Catholic character, the central role of bird shooting, and club life beyond the actual shooting.