Soltauer Schützenfest

Soltau City and Country Marksmen's Guild

The Soltau City and Country Marksmen's Guild (Schützengilde Soltau Stadt und Land e.V.) is the custodian of Soltau's marksmen's tradition, uniting marksmen families from Soltau and surrounding communities. With its four-day main festival, the guild is one of the largest marksmen's associations in the region and shapes the social life of the city.

Ceremony in front of the Old Town Hall

The festive opening of the festival will take place on Thursday, July 9th at 1 PM in front of Soltau's Old Town Hall. Marksmen families, club delegations, the city council, and guests will gather here for the public opening of the festival. This staging at a historically significant location provides the festival with its ceremonial framework.

First Rottmeisterin Dhelia Henderson

In 2026, Dhelia Henderson will be the first woman in the history of the Soltau Marksmen's Guild to serve as Rottmeisterin. This historic premiere is an expression of a conscious modernization course with which the guild aims to meet the demands of contemporary club life. Henderson takes on the central role of Rottmeisterin with hosting duties at the 'Katerfrühstück' and a representative function during the festival.

'Katerfrühstück' at the Rottmeisters'

The 'Katerfrühstück' at the Rottmeisters' is one of the characteristic program elements. On the morning after the festive evening, marksmen and guests gather at the Rottmeisters' for a shared breakfast. This tradition combines sporting effort and social enjoyment and is a typical element of North German marksmen's festivals.

Marquee Party on the Schützenplatz

The large marquee on Soltau's Schützenplatz is the social center. The King's Dinner, King's Ball, dance evenings, and the entire social festival program take place here. With live bands, DJ sets, and a broad audience of marksmen families and festival guests, an atmosphere is created that combines the Schützenfest with the classic Volksfest.

Parade through the City Center

The grand parade through Soltau's city center on the festival Sunday is one of the visual highlights. Marksmen in historical uniforms, marching bands, club delegations, and festively decorated floats move through the central streets, attracting thousands of spectators to the curbsides.