Schützenfest St. Cornelius Geyen 1927

99th Schützenfest — the dress rehearsal before the 100th anniversary

The St. Cornelius Schützenbruderschaft Geyen 1927 e.V. is one of the most traditional clubs in the Pulheim district of Geyen — founded in 1927, it is in the midst of preparations for the grand 100th anniversary in 2027 in 2026. The Schützenfest 2026, from May 14th to 17th, is the 99th edition and thus also the festive dress rehearsal before the anniversary year.

Four days of festivities from Ascension Day to Sunday

The Geyen Schützenfest follows the traditional Rhenish rhythm of four days of festivities around Ascension Day:

• Thursday, May 14th, 2026 — Ascension Day (Father's Day): Roll call, festive church service, shooting competition, election of the king
• Friday, May 15th, 2026: Dance evening in the Schützenhalle, live music, socializing
• Saturday, May 16th, 2026: Parade through Geyen, shooting competitions for ladies and junior shooters, King's Ball in the evening
• Sunday, May 17th, 2026: Festival conclusion, family program, finale

Biervogel Shooting and Children's Program

A typical Rhenish shooting tradition is the Biervogel shooting — a competition where participants shoot at wooden bird replicas; the successful shooter receives a barrel of beer as a trophy (= "Biervogel"). This discipline is a charmingly down-to-earth variation of the otherwise very ritualized shooting competitions. In parallel, there is a family program for the younger guests — performance by the regionally known magician Minimax with show acts and balloon art, supplemented by a bouncy castle on the festival grounds.

Crowning only in September

A special feature of the Geyen festival calendar: The election of the king takes place on the Thursday of the Schützenfest — however, the festive crowning of the new majesties will only take place months later on September 26th, 2026, in a separate festive setting. This second festival day extends the club life beyond the actual May week and makes the royal family a central social figure in Geyen village life for half a year.

Pulheim and Geyen — on the edge of the Ville

Pulheim is a medium-sized town in the Rhein-Erft district northwest of Cologne with around 55,000 inhabitants. Geyen is one of the 12 Pulheim districts, with its own village church, club life, and a distinct identity as a formerly independent municipality (incorporated in 1975). The St. Cornelius Brotherhood has been the umbrella organization for club life, traditions, and community in the village for almost 100 years. The Schützenfest is a must-attend event in the annual calendar for every Geyen citizen — the Schützenhaus at the village entrance is the village center and a meeting place for generations.