Schützenfest Niederzier (Huchem-Stammeln)

Tradition since 1920 — St. Josef Brotherhood and Marksmen's Society

The Schützenfest in Huchem-Stammeln, a district of the municipality of Niederzier in the Düren district, has been organized by the St. Josef Brotherhood and Marksmen's Society Huchem-Stammeln 1920 e.V. for over 100 years. The marksmen's brotherhood bears the name of Saint Joseph — patron saint of workers and fathers — and combines the Catholic tradition of brotherhood with the Rhenish marksmen's customs.

When is the festival in 2026?

The Schützenfest takes place annually in mid-June. The exact date for 2026 will be officially announced by the brotherhood in the spring of 2026. Following the pattern of previous years — in 2025 the festival was on June 20, 21, and 22 — a mid-June weekend is also expected in 2026. Venue: the Sky Night, the event hall in the Huchem-Stammeln district.

Program Schedule (based on 2025)

Friday Evening — DJ Opening

The festival traditionally kicks off with a DJ night starting at 8 PM in the Sky Night: danceable music, announcement of the King and Queen, pre-party for the weekend. Admission for guests is free or at very moderate prices.

Saturday — King's Ball with Show Act

The highlight of the weekend is the King's Ball on Saturday evening with live music — in recent years often Musik Delux Silvi & Ralf, complemented by a show act (most recently Ben Randerath). Marksmen and guests dress festively, the King and Queen lead through the evening, with dancing and catering included.

Sunday — Coronation Mass, Parade, and Cafeteria

Sunday begins with the Coronation Mass in St. Josef Parish Church — the religious core of the event. In the afternoon, the parade of the marksmen through the district follows, and in the Sky Night, a cafeteria with coffee and homemade cake awaits — the social conclusion of the weekend.

Huchem-Stammeln — the District

Huchem-Stammeln is one of the central districts of the municipality of Niederzier (Düren district), located between Düren and Jülich in the west of the Cologne Bay. With its local marksmen's brotherhood, St. Josef Parish Church, and the Sky Night as the event hall, the village has a lively, well-organized community life. The Schützenfest is a mandatory event for all generations — from grandparents who have belonged to the marksmen's society for decades to children discovering the festival with pretzels and lemonade.

The Catholic Marksmen Tradition

The St. Josef Brotherhood and Marksmen's Society follows the tradition of ecclesiastical marksmen's brotherhoods, which are particularly strongly rooted in the Rhineland and Westphalia. Club life combines shooting competitions, festivals, and religious tradition (patron saint's day, coronation mass, parade). Membership is open to Catholic and non-Catholic citizens of the municipality — modern tradition, not rigid confessionalism.