Schützenfest St. Lambertus Osterbauer Ascheberg

Marksmen Tradition in the Münsterland

The marksmen tradition is deeply rooted in the Münsterland and especially in the district of Coesfeld. Almost every Bauerschaft, every district, maintains its own marksmen's brotherhood with an annual festival — the St. Lambertus Osterbauer Marksmen's Brotherhood in Ascheberg is one of them. Named after Saint Lambertus, the patron saint of the Münsterland, the association has shaped social life in the Osterbauer Bauerschaft for generations with its summer festival.

Program from July 3rd to 5th, 2026

A classic Schützenfest follows a traditional schedule that has evolved over decades:

• Friday — Festival ceremony or beer tapping, dance evening in the festival tent with live band
• Saturday — Muster in uniform, parade to the shooting range, bird shooting with subsequent proclamation of the king, crowning of the king and queen, grand king's ball in the evening
• Sunday — Festive high mass in the parish church, morning pint, parade through the Bauerschaft, king's award ceremony, and family program

The exact program will be published by the association in the spring.

Ascheberg, Three Districts, Many Schützenfeste

The municipality of Ascheberg (around 15,000 inhabitants) is divided into the districts of Ascheberg, Davensberg, and Herbern. Each district and each Bauerschaft has its own Schützenfest — from citizens' marksmen to Bauerschaft marksmen to specific associations like the St. Lambertus Brotherhood Osterbauer. Anyone traveling through the Münsterland in the summer will experience marching music, parades in red and green uniforms, and the typical clatter of bird shooting installations almost every weekend somewhere.

More Than Just Shooting

In the Münsterland, the Schützenfest is far more than an association for sport shooters: it is simultaneously a village wedding, a class reunion, a heritage preservation event, and a festival for all generations. The king is the representative of the Bauerschaft for one year, the royal couple is crowned in a solemn ceremony, and the royal household with its court accompanies numerous occasions throughout the year. Non-members are also welcome as guests.

Location and Arrival

Osterbauer is a Bauerschaft south of the main town of Ascheberg, nestled in the typical Münsterland park landscape with farms, hedgerows, and meadows. The best way to get there is by car via the A1 (Ascheberg exit) or by train (Ascheberg/Westfalen station).