Düsseldorf is celebrating the magnificent St. Sebastianer 2025 parade!

Düsseldorf is celebrating the magnificent St. Sebastianer 2025 parade!

Cologne lives through its traditions and festivals that bring people together and bring joy. The St. Sebastian festival parade that recently took place in Düsseldorf on July 14, 2025 is the best proof of this. A wonderful mix of history and community brought thousands of spectators to the streets to celebrate this special day.

Under the magnificent sky of Düsseldorf, where sunshine and cloudy periods alternated, around 1,500 participants gathered for this spectacular parade. Chairman Torsten Peters and shooting chief Andreas Paul Stieber had their debut in their new positions and were able to look back on how the festival ran smoothly. The first order to line up was given at 8:40 a.m., followed by a solemn service in St. Lambertus Church at 9:30 a.m. The line-up for the big parade began at 1:40 p.m. on the Rhine terrace, where the participants formed up to celebrate the traditional St. Sebastian riflemen from 1316. Ddorf currently reported, that the festive atmosphere was already noticeable at the beginning, when Elector Jan Wellem (Lothar Adams) and Anna Maria (Patricia Pannebecker) rode on horseback through the ranks of the riflemen.

A highlight of tradition

The biggest attraction was the big parade on Jägerhofallee, where Colonel Torsten Peters announced his readiness for the parade on his magnificent horse “General”. At this time, the 29 societies of the Düsseldorf shooting club were also fully represented with a total of 1,600 members. Such an event is an important anchor point not only for the participants, but also for the entire community, which strengthens the sense of community. Local office provides further details about the importance and commitment of the shooters.

Shooting festivals are widespread in Germany and are still very popular. They not only inspire the participants, but also attract numerous fans who devote themselves to the historical parades and the colorful hustle and bustle. These festivals are not just about choosing the new shooting king, but also about celebrating together, eating and socializing in the festival tent, often accompanied by rides and music. The tradition has its roots in the Middle Ages, when shooters were responsible for the security of communities, and is an integral part of German culture, true to the motto: “Community is very important here”.

Another look at the shooting festivals

There are over 15,000 shooting clubs in Germany. The shooting festivals usually take place in summer or late spring and have a new motto every year. All shooting clubs highlights that the largest shooting festival takes place annually in Hanover, which is known as the largest shooting festival in the world. Events like the European Shooting Festival bring together traditions from different countries and spread the spirit of shooting across national borders.

In summary, we can say without a doubt that the St. Sebastian parade in Düsseldorf was a complete success, which delighted the hearts of the spectators and underlined the important role of the shooting clubs in society. Such festivals are more than just celebrations; they strengthen the sense of community and preserve valuable traditions for future generations.