Schützenfest SV Lotte von 1659

Marksmen's Tradition since 1659

The Schützenverein Lotte e.V. von 1659 is one of the oldest still active marksmen's clubs in western Westphalia — founded in the 17th century, in the period after the Thirty Years' War, when citizen marksmen were often founded as town and village militias. Over 366 years of club history is an exception in German club life — accordingly high is the significance of SV Lotte for the identity of the municipality and the Tecklenburger Land.

Program 2026 (Date being prepared)

The exact date of the 2026 marksmen's festival has not yet been published at the time of editing. As in previous years, the festival is expected to take place in June 2026. The club will announce the date on its website and via the event page. Classic schedule of a Westphalian marksmen's festival:

• Festkommers (festival ceremony) or beer tapping to open
• Festzug (parade) of the marksmen in uniform through the municipality
• Festhochamt (festive high mass) in the local parish church
• Vogelschießen (bird shooting) with crowning of the new king and queen
• Königsball (king's ball) with live music in the festival tent
• Morning pint and festival closing on Sunday/Monday

Lotte and the Tecklenburger Land

The municipality of Lotte (approx. 13,500 inhabitants) is located in the district of Steinfurt in the Westphalian Tecklenburger Land — at the transition between Münsterland and Osnabrücker Land, directly on the border with Lower Saxony. The region is characterized by the typical Münsterland park landscape, forests, rivers, and the TERRA.vita nature park (Teutoburg Forest/Osnabrück Land).

Marksmen's Clubs in the Tecklenburger Land

The marksmen's club system is as dense in the Tecklenburger Land and Münsterland as in the Sauerland and Paderborn Land. Almost every municipality, every district maintains its own marksmen's club with an annual festival. With its founding in 1659, SV Lotte is one of the oldest in the region — accordingly traditional are the customs and club life.

Contact

For questions about the 2026 marksmen's festival, the Schützenverein Lotte can be reached at Tel. 05404 6118 or by email ([email protected]). Current information is available on the club's website schuetzenvereinlotte.de.