Vogelschießen Högersdorf

One Village, One Festival Day

The Vogelschießen Högersdorf is one of the most important events in the annual calendar of the small municipality of Högersdorf in the Segeberg district. It follows a widespread tradition in Schleswig-Holstein: marksmen shoot with air rifles at targets mounted on a wooden bird until the new marksmen's king is crowned.

Preparations Begin in February

The municipality transparently documents the 2026 festival via its event calendar — preparation meetings are already officially scheduled (February 10 and April 6, 2026, at the community center). This shows how deeply the festival is rooted in the village community: planning takes place together for months, from the festival tent and shooting range to catering.

Festival Day with Tradition

On the festival day itself, preparations begin early in the morning with the setup of the shooting stands and tents. During the day, the shooting competition, a communal lunch with the village community, activities for children, and the king's proclamation in the evening follow. The day concludes with music, dancing, and a cozy get-together.

More Than Shooting — A Piece of North German Culture

Anyone who experiences the Vogelschießen in a village like Högersdorf witnesses genuine Schleswig-Holstein customs. The tradition is not a museum spectacle but is actively lived by the clubs, families, and the community — from small-caliber shooting for youngsters and garland tying in a convivial round to the actual bird shooting. The municipality of Högersdorf is located on the edge of the Holstein Switzerland Nature Park, about 40 km north of Hamburg.