Schützenfest Wenden (Schönau-Altenwenden)

Shooting Tradition Since 1460

The St. Severinus Schützenbruderschaft Wenden 1460 e.V. is one of the oldest shooting brotherhoods in North Rhine-Westphalia. Founded in 1460, its history reaches deep into the late Middle Ages. The Schützenfest in the Wendener districts of Schönau and Altenwenden has been the central social event for the village communities ever since.

Three Days of Festival Tradition

In 2026, the Schützenfest in Schönau-Altenwenden will take place from Friday, June 27th, to Sunday, June 29th. The program follows the classic structure of Sauerland Schützenfeste:

• Friday evening — Bird shooting to determine the new Junior King, Schützenkönig (King), and possibly a new Kaiser (Emperor)
• Saturday — Presentation of the new majesties in a parade through Schönau and Altenwenden, followed by the King's Ball
• Sunday — Winding down with a morning pint (Frühschoppen), festival service, and battalion parade

Musical Accompaniment

As always, the festival will be accompanied by two local music associations: the Musikverein „Treue" Ottfingen and the Spielmannszug Wenden (drum and bugle corps). They lead the parades and provide musical accompaniment for ceremonies and honor guards.

Wenden in the Olpe Sauerland

Wenden is located in the Olpe district in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the Olpe Sauerland — a wooded low mountain range region between Lennestadt, Olpe, and Drolshagen. The municipality is predominantly rural, with numerous villages and hamlets. Schützenfeste are identity-forming here: practically every Wendener district has its own shooting brotherhood, and celebrations take place weekend after weekend throughout the festival calendar.

Sauerland Shooting Tradition — Tradition with Depth

The shooting tradition in the Sauerland is more than just a festival: it is a carrier of Catholic tradition, village identity, and multi-generational community. The brotherhoods organize club life, pilgrimages, honor guards, and social gatherings. The Schützenfest is the annual highlight where all of this becomes visible — and new majesties take over the reins for a year.