Schützenfest Stukenbrock (St. Johannes)

Schützenfest Stukenbrock — Tradition meets Farmers' Market

The Schützenfest of the St. Johannes Schützenbruderschaft Stukenbrock is one of the central association festivals in the town of Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock (Gütersloh district, East Westphalia-Lippe). From August 16 to 19, 2026, the brotherhood will celebrate for four days with a classic Schützen program, association life, and an integrated farmers' market.

Four Days of Schützen Tradition

The program follows the Westphalian pattern with additions:

• Sunday, August 16 — Festival kickoff with assembly, high mass in St. Johannes, and handover of the royal couple
• Monday, August 17 — Bird shooting competition and determination of the new Schützenkönig (king), festival evening
• Tuesday, August 18 — King's proclamation and grand parade
• Wednesday, August 19 — Honors, farmers' market, and winding down

Farmers' Market as a Special Feature

A special feature of the Stukenbrock Schützenfest is the Bauernmarkt (farmers' market), which takes place parallel to the festival. Here, local farmers and direct marketers from the Gütersloh district present their products — cheese, sausages, honey, fruit, vegetables, baked goods. A conscious connection between the association festival and the rural economic structure, deeply rooted in Westphalian Schützen traditions.

St. Johannes Schützenbruderschaft Stukenbrock

The St. Johannes Schützenbruderschaft is named after John the Baptist — the parish church of St. Johannes is the spiritual center of the brotherhood. The high mass on Sunday is part of the festival program.

Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock — East Westphalian Medium-Sized Town

The town of Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock was formed in 1970 from the merger of the previously independent municipalities of Schloß Holte and Stukenbrock — today a town with around 27,000 inhabitants in the southeastern district of Gütersloh. Known among other things for the Holte amusement park (Hollywood Park Stukenbrock) and the large distribution center of Bertelsmann/Arvato. The town is located at the transition from the Teutoburg Forest to the Senne Heath.