SchŸtzenfest

SchŸtzenfest (Marksmen's Festival)

July

This event in Germany is a tradition going back 400 years. There are a number of marksmen's festivals held during the summer months. The biggest of these, in Hannover, is held for 10 days at the beginning of July and attracts about 200,000 spectators. It features merry-go-rounds, other carnival rides, and food booths, many serving sausage. The fair is highlighted by Europe's longest festival procession. There are marksmen's brass-and-pipe bands, paraders in folk costumes, floats, and horse-drawn carriages. Other notable marksmen's festivals are in Düsseldorf in July and in Biberach in Baden-Württemberg in June or July. The Biberach festival has been celebrated every year since 1649 and features a procession of more than 1,000 costumed children.

CONTACTS:
Hannover Tourismus Service
Ernst-August-Platz 8
Hannover, D-30159 Germany
49-511-123-45-111; fax: 49-511-123-45-112
www.hannover.de/english/index.html

SOURCES:
AnnivHol-2000, p. 126
FestWestEur-1958, p. 74