Waldfeucht Municipal Festival (Braunsrath Grand Fair)

Waldfeucht Municipal Festival — A 2026 Premiere

The municipality of Waldfeucht is located in the far west of North Rhine-Westphalia — in the Selfkant, Germany's westernmost tip on the border with the Netherlands. In 2026, the municipality is daring a premiere: the first municipal festival of all localities, combined with the traditional Braunsrath Grand Fair. From May 30 to June 1, 2026, rifle clubs, citizens of the individual districts will gather at the festival grounds at the Braunsrath Festival Hall.

What's New — and What Remains?

Until 2025, the districts of the municipality of Waldfeucht (Waldfeucht, Haaren, Selsten, Brüggelchen, Braunsrath, Bocket, Frilinghoven, Obspringen) celebrated their rifle festivals separately. In 2026, the municipality decided on a joint festival weekend: the brotherhoods of all districts will come together in Braunsrath to preserve tradition, foster encounters, and strengthen community life across districts. The Braunsrath Grand Fair — a fair maintained for decades — forms the secular, fair-typical framework.

Three Days of Program

The exact program will be communicated by the municipal administration and the participating rifle clubs. Expected are:

• Saturday, May 30 — Festival opening, inauguration at the festival grounds, concert in the evening
• Sunday, May 31 — Rifle Mass, fair day with family activities, parade of the united brotherhoods
• Monday, June 1 (Whit Monday) — concluding family day with festival tent program

The weekend falls on Whitsun — a typical date for Rhenish and Lower Rhenish rifle festivals, as many municipalities use Whit Monday as an additional holiday.

Waldfeucht — Western Tip on the Selfkant

The municipality of Waldfeucht has around 9,000 inhabitants and belongs to the Heinsberg district. Geographically, it is located in the Selfkant — Germany's westernmost point. The proximity to the Netherlands influences language, cuisine, and community life. Rifle tradition is particularly deeply rooted here: almost every district has its own brotherhood, often with centuries of history.

Braunsrath Festival Hall as Venue

The Braunsrath Festival Hall is the central event building of the district and is used several times a year for club activities, carnival celebrations, and larger family gatherings. With its own festival grounds, catering area, and stage, it is ideally suited for the premiere format — short distances, established infrastructure, familiar atmosphere for the riflemen from the entire municipality.