St. Sebastian Amelsbüren Marksmen Festival

St. Sebastian Amelsbüren Marksmen Festival 2026 — 213 Years of Tradition

From September 11 to 13, 2026, the Münster district of Amelsbüren will celebrate its traditional marksmen festival. The St. Sebastian Marksmen Brotherhood Amelsbüren of 1813 e.V. has preserved the marksmen's tradition for over 210 years — one of the oldest brotherhoods in the Münsterland region. Three days of festivities with a classic program make the village in southern Münster the focal point of a rich traditional heritage.

Program 2026 — Day by Day

Friday, September 11, 2026 — Flag Hoisting at the Festival Tent

• Opening with solemn flag hoisting of the brotherhood
• Welcome by the board
• Festival tent opening with the first round of festival beer
• Sociability and the eve of the festival weekend

Saturday, September 12, 2026 — Children's Festival and Dance Evening

• Afternoon: Children's Festival in the primary schoolyard with games, sweets, and proclamation of the children's king
• Early Evening: Flag ceremony of the brotherhood with a marching band
• Evening: Public dance in the festival tent with a live band

Sunday, September 13, 2026 — King's Shoot in the Schützenwald

• King's Shoot at the bird shooting stand in the Schützenwald
• Determination of the new King and Queen for 2026/27
• Followed by the formation of the royal court with ministers
• Festival evening in the festival tent

Monday, September 14, 2026 — Parade, Coronation, and Celebratory Ball

• Marching band wake-up call through the district
• Parade of the brotherhood through Amelsbüren
• Solemn coronation of the new King and Queen
• Celebratory ball in the festival tent — festive conclusion

Royal Court 2025/26 — the reigning leadership of the brotherhood

At the 2025 bird shoot, Thomas Vogt became the new King, together with Queen Andrea Vogt. Other dignitaries:

• Youth Prince: Max Volkmann
• Student Princess: Katinka Behnen
• Children's King and Queen: Hanna Egger and Anton Kappen

The entire royal court represents the brotherhood internally and externally for one year, visits festivals of neighboring brotherhoods, and participates in official events in the district.

St. Sebastian Marksmen Brotherhood Amelsbüren — Tradition Since 1813

The St. Sebastian Marksmen Brotherhood Amelsbüren 1813 e.V. was founded in 1813 — in the midst of the Napoleonic Wars. The patron saint is Saint Sebastianus, the classic patron of marksmen. The brotherhood is organized into several companies (Jägerzug, Spielmannszug, Kavalleriezug) and, in addition to the marksmen festival, organizes other traditional events: St. Sebastian's Day festival in January, shooting competitions, receptions at neighboring brotherhoods, pilgrimages. Membership: Hartmannsbrook 62, Münster-Amelsbüren. Festival booklet available for download at schuetzen-amelsbueren.de.

Venue: Festival Tent at the Schützenwald

The Schützenwald is located on the eastern edge of Amelsbüren and houses the brotherhood's bird shooting stand. For the marksmen festival, in addition to the festival tent at the Schützenwald, the schoolyard of the Amelsbüren primary school is also used for the children's festival — a proven combination of the old brotherhood grounds and new school infrastructure, offering the right setting for every festival day.

Amelsbüren — the southernmost district of Münster

The district of Amelsbüren, with around 6,700 inhabitants, is located in the far south of the city of Münster, on the border with the Coesfeld district. A classic Münsterland village with farms, a church, club life, and close community cohesion. Since the municipal reform of 1975, Amelsbüren has been part of the Münster city area but has largely retained its village character. The marksmen festival is one of the most important annual district festivals and brings together not only brotherhood members but the entire Amelsbüren population.