Whitsun Schützenfest St. Hubertus Avenwedde-Friedrichsdorf

Whitsun Schützenfest in Catholic Ostwestfalen

The St. Hubertus Schützenbruderschaft Avenwedde-Friedrichsdorf belongs to the Archdiocesan Schützenbund – the traditional umbrella organization of Catholic Schützenbruderschaften in Westphalia. Whitsun is THE Schützen weekend in Catholic regions, and Avenwedde-Friedrichsdorf is one of the liveliest Schützen locations in the Gütersloh district. Four days of festival tent tradition on the Old Schützenplatz.

2026 Programme — Four Whitsun Days

Friday, May 22, 2026 — March Concert

Opening with a march concert. Schützen bands and friendly clubs play classic Schützen marches, the brotherhood gathers in front of the festival tent.

Saturday, May 23, 2026 — Procession and Miss Election

• 3:30 PM — Procession from Immelstraße 134
• Election of Miss St. Huberta 2026
• Evening entertainment with the band Ambiente

Sunday, May 24, 2026 — Festival Parade and Coronation

• Festival parade through Avenwedde
• Coronation of the Young King / Young King Couple
• Evening programme with band Weekender

Whit Monday, May 25, 2026 — Coronation of the King Couple

• 8:30 AM — Schützenmesse
• 11:30 AM — Bird shooting on the Schützenplatz
• King proclamation and court presentation

What a Schützenbruderschaft Is

Unlike pure Schützenvereine (marksmen's clubs), Schützenbruderschaften are historically religiously anchored – mostly Catholic brotherhoods under a patron saint (here St. Hubertus, patron of hunters). They cultivate faith, tradition, community, and marksmen's sport simultaneously. The brotherhood is part of the spirit of many villages and districts in Ostwestfalen.

Avenwedde-Friedrichsdorf

Avenwedde and Friedrichsdorf are two connected districts of Gütersloh in the southern Münsterland / northern Ostwestfalen. Avenwedde has around 5,700 inhabitants, Friedrichsdorf about 2,500 – small, established communities with a lively club life. Together they form Gütersloh's Catholic Schützen quarter.

Gütersloh — Bertelsmann City in the Münsterland Transition

Gütersloh is the district town of the Gütersloh district and lies in the transition between Münsterland and Ostwestfalen. With around 100,000 inhabitants, it is manageable but economically significant (Bertelsmann Group, Miele, Pfleiderer). The Catholic tradition of Schützenwesen is deeply rooted here – as everywhere in the Diocese of Paderborn.

Miss St. Huberta — A Modern Tradition

The election of Miss St. Huberta is a relatively modern tradition for many Schützenbruderschaften: The elected Miss accompanies the King Couple during the festival and represents the brotherhood at public appearances. A mixture of traditional customs and contemporary self-assurance.