Schützenfest Wethmar

Wethmar — District in Northern Lünen

Wethmar is a district of the city of Lünen in the Unna district, North Rhine-Westphalia, located north of the Lippe River. Nearly 6,000 inhabitants, a village character, with active club life centered around the shooting club, the parish, and sports clubs. The Schützenfest of the Schützen-Verein Wethmar von 1900 is one of the central social anchors here — many families celebrate it across generations.

Schützen-Verein Wethmar von 1900 e.V.

Founded in 1900, the Schützen-Verein Wethmar looks back on over 125 years of club history. The annual Schützenfest on Pentecost weekend is the heart of club life; in addition, the club cultivates shooting sports, youth work, and social events throughout the year. With red uniforms, a club banner, and a fixed program of king's shooting, parade, and coronation ball, the Wethmar festival is a classic Westphalian Schützenfest — embedded in the tradition of the Catholic brotherhoods of the Münsterland and the Ruhr area.

Four Days of Festival on Pentecost Weekend

In 2026, the festival runs from Thursday, June 4th, to Sunday, June 7th — over the Pentecost weekend and all day in the festival tent at the Wethmar Schützenplatz (shooting club grounds). Opening on Thursday with a ceremony and dance evening, Friday traditionally the "Schützenball" with live music, Saturday the grand festival day with king's shooting or king's celebration, Sunday a parade through Wethmar with reception of the king and his court, followed by a morning pint and coronation ball in the evening. The shooting clubs of Lünen maintain mutual visits — neighboring clubs are also present at the Wethmar festival.

March on April 18th, 2026

The festival year is traditionally ushered in by the Ausmarsch (march-out): On Saturday, April 18th, 2026, at 3:00 PM, the marksmen march in uniform through Wethmar — an official start that attunes the public to the approaching Pentecost weekend. Club banner open, marching band, followed by a cozy get-together in the Schützenheim (club house). The main festival follows six weeks later.

One of Many Schützenfeste in the Lünen Area

The city of Lünen and its districts maintain an unusually dense Schützenfest season: The Lünen-Süd shooting club alone celebrates its festival in early July (July 3rd–12th, 2026), along with several smaller clubs in the Brambauer, Horstmar, and Niederaden quarters. Wethmar, with its early Pentecost date, marks the start of the season in northern Lünen — thus asserting its special position in the calendar.