Schützenfest Velmede-Bestwig — 200 Years of St. Andreas

200 Years of St. Andreas Schützenbruderschaft

The St. Andreas Schützenbruderschaft Velmede-Bestwig 1826 e.V. celebrates its 200th birthday in 2026. This makes it one of the oldest Schützenbruderschaften (marksmen's associations) in the Sauerland region – almost twice as old as the founding of the German Empire. The association is named after the apostle Andrew, a patron saint common in Sauerland traditions. The anniversary year is not just one Schützenfest, but a whole program of several events.

The Anniversary Year 2026 — More Than Just a Festival

Several major dates are spread throughout the year:

• January 9–10, 2026 — Regional Assembly of the European Community of Historical Marksmen (175–200 marksmen from Northern Germany expected), with a church service and evening celebration
• April 26, 2026 — Spring Concert with the Musikverein Antfeld and Valmetaler Musikanten in the Schützenhalle
• June 19–20, 2026 — Grand Anniversary Schützenfest
• July 18, 2026 — Traditional Schnadegang (border walk) with a ceremonial act at Bestwig Town Hall
• September 8, 2026 — Concert by the Kassel Army Music Corps in the Schützenhalle
• November 2026 — Expanded St. Andreas Market on the occasion of the patron saint's festival (planned)
• Historical guided walks as accompanying program

Anniversary Schützenfest June 19–20, 2026

The highlight is the Schützenfest itself:

Friday, June 19, 2026 — Bird Shoot at Ostenberg

The traditional bird shoot at Ostenberg, a hill above Velmede. Here, candidates shoot at a wooden bird – the winners become Kaiser and Vice-Kaiser for the anniversary year. In the Sauerland region, this title is exceptionally called "Kaiser" (Emperor) instead of "König" (King) – Kaiser is the honorable upgrade awarded only to associations that have achieved a royal multiple of merits.

Saturday, June 20, 2026 — Kaiser Proclamation

In the Schützenhalle Velmede-Bestwig, the Kaiser proclamation takes place during the ceremonial act – with the handover of the Kaiser chain and the official installation of the new Kaiser couple. This is followed by the festive ceremony, reception, catering, and a dance evening.

Velmede-Bestwig in the Sauerland

Velmede and Bestwig are two villages that have belonged to the municipality of Bestwig since 1969. The municipality has around 11,000 inhabitants and is located in the Hochsauerlandkreis district, in the Sauerland mountain range between Brilon and Meschede. The region is designated as the Sauerland-Rothaargebirge Nature Park and is an important recreational area in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Sauerland Marksmen Tradition

In the Hochsauerlandkreis district, the Schützenwesen (marksmen's tradition) is particularly deeply rooted. Schützenfeste here are not just club festivals, but religiously founded major events with high mass, a church component, and distinct traditions. The St. Andreas Schützenbruderschaft Velmede-Bestwig belongs to the European Community of Historical Marksmen – an umbrella organization that connects the old marksmen traditions of Europe.