Schützenfest Veckenstedt

Schützenfest in the Harz Foreland

Veckenstedt is a district of the municipality of Nordharz in the Harz district, located on the northern edge of the Harz Mountains between Wernigerode and Vienenburg. As in many villages in the Harz foreland, the annual Schützenfest (marksmen's festival) is an indispensable part of the village community's identity here. Four days of events from Thursday evening to Sunday — the Veckenstedt marksmen's association transforms its festival grounds into an event arena.

The highlight is the king's shoot with the proclamation of the new royal titleholders. In addition, there are dance evenings with live music or a DJ, the traditional parade with friendly marksmen's associations on Saturday, and a cozy conclusion with a Frühschoppen and brass music. The concept is proven — and that's exactly the point: Schützenfeste thrive on recurrence, on the annual remembrance of the association's identity.

One of Many Marksmen Traditions in Northern Harz

The municipality of Nordharz in the state of Saxony-Anhalt extends over twelve districts — Veckenstedt is one of them. Practically every district has its marksmen's association, and the festival calendar is correspondingly dense: Abbenrode (June), Langeln (June), Schmatzfeld (June), Stapelburg (June), Wasserleben (July), Veckenstedt (July), Heudeber (August). The Schützenfeste thus follow one another week by week — a classic phenomenon of Eastphalian and Lower Saxon-Saxony-Anhalt village tradition.