Schützenfest Parade

Spring time is here and that means Bavarian fest season is upon us! We caught the tail end of the summer festivals last year when we arrived in Germany, but are excited to take part in even more this year. I will do my best to share the unique cheer and traditions we witness as the season unfolds. The first major fest that took place in our town was Schützenfest, translated to mean ‘Shooting Festival.’ In our region, this festival is a large event and does not take place in the same town every year. It rotates in location, as organized by the nearby Alpine Clubs.

The city of Garmisch-Partenkirchen hosted the 27th Annual Alpine Regions Meeting for 2024. When I first heard of this “meeting” it sounded business-like and unexciting, but boy was I mistaken. This was a much-anticipated event for many locals. Alpine Club members take part in outdoor shooting as well as other cultural preservation activities in their respective regions. Members of the various clubs come together at Schützenfest to be recognized for their common commitment to homeland and tradition. This proved to be quite the major event, with about 9000 participants representing Alpine Shooting Clubs from Tyrol and Bavaria.

The weather in southern Germany can be very unpredictable in the spring, but May 26^th brought lucky blue skies for Schützenfest activities. As we walked toward town, we found the Garmisch streets bustling with people wearing traditional dirndls and lederhosen. This combined with the dreamy backdrop of the Alps was already a cheerful sight, setting the tone for a fun afternoon. A gigantic parade began at 1pm, with thousands of spectators lining the streets to watch. The nearly two-hour procession captivated young and old alike. It was definitely the longest parade that I have personally been present to watch. Representatives from Tyrolean Shooting Clubs proudly wore colorful traditional outfits with matching hats and accessories. They usually marched in rows of five, carrying a collection of rifles, swords, and flags unique to their region. I was amazed by the large bands each group had in their procession. These impressive bands all included a large drum section and were often accompanied by brass and other instruments, many of which I was unfamiliar with. The procession made its way around town, with the center of the route being the Garmisch pedestrian zone. I learned after the fact that the procession itself was a kilometer-long!

The local Bavarian clubs marched at the end, saving the coveted best slots for last. A final flower-decorated float pulled by horses marked the Garmisch Shooters Club as the hosts for this year’s celebration. At the end of the parade, participants and supporters convened at the festival grounds. Instead of heading to the festival grounds ourselves, we caught up with some friends for a drink in town and spent some time walking around the Kurpark (in-town park), which was in full springtime bloom.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Schützenfest parade. The event was different than other German fests I have experienced due to the sheer amount of people involved and the focus on the procession instead of a stationary fest grounds with tents. The fresh beautiful spring weather was ideal for hanging around outside without getting too hot or cold. I also love the intention behind the fun – a focus on tradition, homeland, and bringing people together. As the location for the annual alpine meeting rotates, we were definitely lucky to witness it in Garmisch-Partenkirchen this year!