Schützenfest St. Hubertus Olpe

Shooting tradition in the Südsauerland since 1921

The St. Hubertus Schützenbruderschaft Olpe 1921 e.V. is one of the most important club organizations in the southern Sauerland district town of Olpe. With its motto “Faith, Custom, Homeland”, it has been preserving the shooting tradition for over a century — the highlight is the annual Schützenfest, which takes place on July 10th and 11th, 2026.

Program 2026

The St. Hubertus Brotherhood announces the program in outline: King bird shooting, citizen bird shooting, and an “attractive supporting program” with a children's festival and DJ entertainment. The club typically publishes detailed daily schedules in the weeks before the festival.

Classic program structure

• Friday, July 10, 2026: Kick-off with festival tent opening, dance evening with DJ.
• Saturday, July 11, 2026: King and citizen bird shooting, family program, crowning of the new King and Queen, dance evening with DJ entertainment.

King Bird Shooting — The Royal Discipline

The King of the Brotherhood is determined by bird shooting — a discipline practiced for centuries, where shooters take turns shooting at the wooden eagle atop the pole until it falls. Whoever takes the final shot becomes King and, with his Queen, leads the Brotherhood for one year. The citizen bird shooting is the open variant, in which non-members can also participate.

Children's Festival

Parallel to the shooting competition, the children's festival takes place — bouncy castles, carousels, face painting, ice cream, and fries, often including its own “children's bird shooting” with harmless disciplines. This ensures the Schützenfest remains a family celebration across all generations.

Olpe — District Town in the Südsauerland

Olpe is the district town of the Kreis Olpe in North Rhine-Westphalia, located in the southern Sauerland. The town, with about 26,000 inhabitants, is known for its old town with the Kreuzkapelle, the nearby Biggesee lake, and its predominantly Catholic club life. Schützenwesen (shooting traditions), Carnival, and local customs are identity-defining here. By the way: The Olé Party Tour also starts its season in Olpe in 2026 — so the town celebrates more than just Schützen.

Getting There

By car via the A45 (Sauerlandlinie), exit Olpe. Festival grounds in the town area — follow signs. By public transport: Bus from Attendorn or Drolshagen, Olpe Hbf station is the terminus of the Bigge/Biggetalbahn.