Aldenhoven celebrates: shooting festival full of tradition and excitement!

Aldenhoven celebrates: shooting festival full of tradition and excitement!

There is a special festival coming up in Aldenhoven: the St. Sebastianus Schützen will celebrate their shooting festival from July 19th to 21st. The start will take place on Saturday, July 19th at 6:30 p.m. with a solemn service in the Holy Spirit Chapel. Afterwards, the riflemen traditionally parade through the village and prepare for the coronation ball, which begins at 8 p.m. The band Good Vibes provides a musical atmosphere and promises that your feet won't stand still.

There are a number of highlights during the shooting festival that ensure there is no chance of boredom. On Sunday, July 20th, the honoring of the fallen at the memorial is on the program at 10 a.m., followed by a march to the parade for clergy and guests of honor through the picturesque avenue. After the ceremonial parade, there is no need to miss out on the festival tent, where the celebrations last until late in the evening. The big flower and royal parade begins in the center of the village at 3:45 p.m., which is a real eye-catcher. In the evening we continue with the Schützenball, for which DJ Yeti takes over the reins - it will be exciting to see what kind of atmosphere there will be here!

Tradition meets folk dance

Monday brings no less excitement: at 10 a.m., a traditional morning pint heralds the finale of the shooting festival. Here, festival visitors can pamper their palates with food and drinks before the pledge shooting starts at 1 p.m. A highlight is the King Bird Shot at 2 p.m., where the new shooting king or queen is determined. Guests can look forward particularly excitedly to the royal evening at 8.15 p.m., when the band Klangstadt will dance in the festival tent.

This year, Crown Prince Holger Witting and his wife Karin can look forward to the title of royal couple. Holger Witting belongs to the Waidmannsheil hunter platoon and will replace Jochen Thumb from the pioneer platoon. Posterity will not be missing either, because her son Lukas Witting is this year's student prince, while Niklas Schippschak continues the tradition as the noble boy king.

Shooting festivals: A piece of custom

But what actually makes a shooting festival so special? Many people flock to these festivities, which usually take place over two to three days and are often accompanied by parades and events. Rumor has it that its origins date back to the Middle Ages, when vigilante groups were formed. However, the military character of the festivals has now given way to a folk festival flair. And you can also see this when preparing the rifle flag, which is a central symbol and is proudly presented in many processions.

The riflemen's uniforms are also an important part of the tradition and show the merits of those who wear them through cords, badges and ties. When the brass band and marching bands provide musical accompaniment, it is not only an entertaining ceremony, but also a well-kept custom that brings the community together. A highlight is the traditional bird shooting, which leads to the election of the new shooting king, although nowadays wooden birds are used. A few years ago there was even a change in the regulation that allowed couples of any sexual orientation to be allowed to wear royal titles.

Overall, Aldenhoven is looking forward to an exciting shooting festival that brings both older and younger generations together and keeps the tradition alive. Here the customs are upheld and the anticipation can be felt in the air. So if you don't have any plans for the coming weekend, you should mark this special event in your calendar!

For more information, visit rp-online.de and nw.de.