Traditional village marksmen's festival in the Sottrum municipality with parade, king proclamation, dance evening, and family day
Sottrum, with a population of just over 7,500, is one of the larger municipalities in the western district of Rotenburg (Wümme). The Schützenverein Sottrum has deep roots in the community and shapes social life far beyond the immediate club members. The annual marksmen's festival is the highlight of the club's year and is one of the most traditional village festivals in the western district.
The marksmen's club traditionally gathers at the Gasthaus Henke in the center of Sottrum. The festive weekend begins here with assembly, greetings, and the reception of the reigning king and queen couples and honored guests. The festive parade through the village also starts from the inn.
The marksmen's procession in uniform, led by the brass band and accompanied by the royal entourage, moves through the main streets of Sottrum. Residents decorate houses and front gardens and line the streets to greet the marksmen. The festive parade is one of the most impressive sights of the festival.
The bird shooting decides who will be the new king or queen. At the shooting range, members shoot at a wooden bird until the last piece falls. Whoever lands the final shot becomes the new king or queen. Parallel to this, cup competitions take place in various categories: young marksmen, ladies, gentlemen, seniors, honorary kings.
On Sunday at 2:00 PM, the entire club gathers for the proclamation. The new majesties – king, queen, youth king, junior king, ladies' queen – are officially inaugurated with sashes and crowns in the presence of other clubs and the public.
The dance evening with a live band or DJ on Saturday night draws all generations to the festival tent. The village celebrates late into the night with beer, bratwurst, and dancing. The family day, often on Sunday afternoon, offers children's shooting, a bouncy castle, a children's king competition, and a cake buffet.
The marksmen's festival transforms the center of Sottrum into a festival mile for two days.
King proclamation at 2:00 PM, ceremonial speech, and dance evening.
The exact 2026 program will be published by the organizer in spring 2026. The structure follows the proven key points from previous years:
June 2026, expected early June (around June 6th–7th). The exact date will be confirmed by the Schützenverein Sottrum.
Schützenplatz and Gasthaus Henke, 27367 Sottrum, Sottrum municipality.
Admission to the festival grounds is free. Festival tent and dance evening may have an admission fee according to club tariffs.
Schützenverein Sottrum e.V., [email protected], Phone 01520 8960950.
Program overview and current dates at www.sv-sottrum.de.
Sottrum is located on the A 1 (Sottrum exit) and the B 75 between Bremen and Rotenburg (Wümme). Sottrum train station on the Bremen–Hamburg line.
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