Schützenfest Südlohn

Südlohn — Münsterland on the Dutch border

The municipality of Südlohn, with around 8,000 inhabitants in the Borken district, North Rhine-Westphalia, is located in the western Münsterland directly on the Dutch border. A classic small Westphalian community with active club life, a central market square, and the parish church of St. Vitus — the namesake of the local shooting association.

St. Vitus Schützenverein 1606

The St. Vitus Schützenverein Südlohn was founded in the year 1606 — over 420 years of club history make it one of the oldest shooting associations in the western Münsterland. Like many associations in the region, it sees itself as a custodian of local tradition from the transition between citizen militia and parish community — with clearly defined roles (Schützenkönig, Schützenkönigin, Hofstaat) and an annual festival calendar that has been repeated for generations. In the year 2031, the club will celebrate its 425th anniversary.

Three Festival Days in August 2026

The main Schützenfest 2026 runs from Friday, August 21st, to Sunday, August 23rd. Setup and preparations begin on Thursday, August 20th, at 5:30 PM, with the distribution of flags between 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM — club members and volunteers prepare the marquee, stage, and shooting range. The three festival days follow the classic Westphalian pattern: opening ceremony on Friday evening, bird shooting on Saturday with proclamation, and parade on Sunday.

Bauernschützenfest in June

A special feature of the Südlohn shooting calendar: The Bauernschützenfest, with evening festivities, takes place as early as June 4th and 5th, 2026 — a smaller format that expresses the connection to Südlohn's rural character. This means the club has two festival dates per year — a rather rare model among Westphalian shooting associations, but one that is traditionally anchored in Südlohn.

Club Calendar

Other dates are spread throughout the year: March 14th General Assembly at 7:30 PM, April 18th Wine tasting at 7:30 PM, June 4th to 5th Bauernschützenfest, August 20th to 24th Main festival (including setup and following Sunday). In addition, there are delegations to neighboring clubs, shooting competitions, and social events at the Schützenheim.

Approaching the 425th Anniversary

With the 2026 Schützenfest, the club is approaching its major anniversary in 2031 — the 425th anniversary. Until then, club activities will be intensified, the youth department will be promoted, and the festival concept will be refined. Anyone who wants to experience the shooting tradition of the western Münsterland in its classic format will find an authentic example in Südlohn.