Warsteiner Pentecost Schützenfest

Marksmen Tradition in the Sauerland

Warstein, the hometown of the Warsteiner brewery, has a marksmen tradition almost as old as brewing itself. The Warstein Civil Protection Society was founded in 1870, and the St. Sebastianus Young Men's Marksmen Brotherhood has even earlier roots. Both clubs share the annual Pentecost Schützenfest – Warstein's most important marksmen's festival, traditionally celebrated at Pentecost.

When and Where is the Festival?

The Warsteiner Pentecost Schützenfest 2026 runs from Saturday, May 23rd to Monday, May 25th, 2026, at the Sauerlandhallen am Herrenberg in Warstein. Three days of festivities with a classic Schützenfest program.

Day-by-Day Program (Typical Schedule)

Saturday, May 23rd, 2026 (Pentecost Saturday) – Opening

• afternoon — Keg tapping and opening speech
• evening — Reception of marksmen families
• evening — Festival evening in the marksmen's tent

Sunday, May 24th, 2026 (Pentecost Sunday) – Festival Service and Parade

• morning — Festival service with marksmen's mass
• afternoon — Grand parade of the marksmen through Warstein
• evening — King's ball

Monday, May 25th, 2026 (Pentecost Monday) – Bird Shooting and King's Coronation

• morning — Bird shooting on the marksmen's grounds
• afternoon — King's coronation with new king and queen
• evening — Festival winding down in the marksmen's tent

Warstein 1870 Civil Protection Society

The Warstein Civil Protection Society e.V. (BSG) is the city's central marksmen's club. Founded in 1870, with a firm tradition, its own marksmen's hall, and several companies. The BSG coordinates the Pentecost Schützenfest with the Young Men's Marksmen Brotherhood and annually provides the king and queen – who are determined by the best shot during the Pentecost Monday bird shooting.

St. Sebastianus Young Men's Marksmen Brotherhood

The St. Sebastianus Young Men's Marksmen Brotherhood is the parallel organization for Warstein's unmarried men. Both clubs form an old dual structure – also indicative of the tradition of Rhineland-Westphalian marksmen's customs. At the Pentecost Schützenfest, both clubs appear together, with separate companies.

Sauerlandhallen am Herrenberg

The Sauerlandhallen are Warstein's central event venue, located on Herrenberg hill in the south of the city. They include several halls, a large outdoor area for Schützenfeste, and parking facilities. During the Pentecost Schützenfest, a large festival tent is erected, complemented by shooting ranges and a carousel area.

Warstein in the Hochsauerlandkreis

Warstein is a city of around 25,000 inhabitants in the Hochsauerlandkreis district, east of Soest. The city is known regionally primarily for the Warsteiner brewery, one of Germany's largest private breweries. The marksmen tradition is as much a part of the city's history as the beer – both are closely intertwined with Warstein's club life and identity.