Schützenfest Schützenverein Heessen 1835

Hamm-Heessen — Shooting Tradition Since 1835

Heessen is a district in the north of Hamm, formerly an independent municipality, and has belonged to the city of Hamm since 1975. With around 25,000 inhabitants, Heessen is one of the largest districts of Hamm and has a distinct identity of its own — shaped, among other things, by Schloss Heessen (now a boarding school) and a vibrant club life. At the heart of this club life is the Schützenverein Heessen 1835 e.V. — founded in 1835, it is one of the oldest active shooting clubs in Westphalia. Its four-day main festival takes place annually around Corpus Christi and is one of Hamm's most important local festivals.

Four Days of Schützenfest 2026

The 2026 festival runs from Thursday, June 4th (Corpus Christi) to Sunday, June 7th, following a proven schedule:

• Thursday, June 4th, 2026 (Corpus Christi) — From 2:15 PM, bird shooting at the Vogelstange in Weingarten. The new king is determined by the final shot. In the evening, a festival parade and village festival with a marquee atmosphere.
• Friday, June 5th, 2026 — 4 PM ecumenical service at St. Barbara Clinic, followed by anniversary celebrations and reception. Club life in the marquee in the evening.
• Saturday, June 6th, 2026 — 7:30 PM grand parade from the town hall through Heessen with marching bands, the Heessen marching band, and friendly clubs. Followed by the King's Ball in the marquee with live music.
• Sunday, June 7th, 2026 — 11 AM festival conclusion with Frühschoppen, a shared lunch, and winding down.

The King and Queen of 2025 — Marco and Tanja Schäfer

The reigning King and Queen until the bird shooting in 2026 are Marco Schäfer (King) and Tanja Schäfer (Queen). The Schäfers, firmly rooted in Heessen village life, represented the club in 2025/2026 with numerous guest appearances at friendly clubs in the Westphalian region. Their reign will end with the bird shooting on June 4th, 2026 — a classic Schützenfest moment.

Musical Accompaniment

The festival is musically accompanied by the Heessen marching band and several brass bands from the Westphalian region. The festival parade on Saturday at 7:30 PM is the musical highlight with several ensembles performing one after another.

The Schützenverein Heessen 1835 e.V.

The Schützenverein Heessen 1835 e.V., founded in 1835, is one of the oldest active shooting clubs in North Rhine-Westphalia and Westphalia. The club preserves the Westphalian-Protestant shooting tradition (ecumenical service instead of Catholic High Mass) with bird shooting, the title of King, festival parades, and the King's Ball. Active youth sections ensure the next generation, and friendly clubs from across northern Hamm and the Münsterland region are regular guests. The club is a member of the Sauerländer Schützenbund.

Discover Hamm-Heessen

For those combining the festival with a visit: Schloss Heessen (private school building, worth seeing from the outside), the Lippeauen with its cycling paths, the Hammer Innenstadt (city center) with Maximilianpark, and the Glaselefant landmark are all within reach.