Celebratory royal birthday paired with an unexpected music performance at the Gerresheim gun salute festivity, Dusseldorf
The Shooting Festival Sunday in Gerresheim, Germany, recently concluded with a celebration filled with tradition, community spirit, and a touch of playfulness.
The highlight of the parade was the performance by the juniors of the local riding corps, who showcased their skills and creativity on hobby horses. This playful and artistic tradition, known as hobby horsing, added a family-friendly and cultural dimension to the festival. Many applauded and the enthusiasm was great when the juniors performed an encore with hobby horsing.
The parade began with a solemn procession by the pages, followed by flags and flower horn blowers. In previous years, as many as 40 horses participated in the procession and parade, but this year, due to the heat, the horses were not available. Instead, almost 30 little horses participated in the parade using sticks to represent the horses.
The majesties from Gerresheim were welcomed by numerous honorary guests and spectators at the Cologne Gate. Among them were Regimental King Jürgen Rosenstock, who conducted his own birthday choir during the event. The new regimental shooting king will be crowned on Monday evening. Stefan Schillinger, who won against three competitors last weekend with the 118th shot and cleaned the king's plate, is set to take on the role.
In addition to the crowning of the new regimental shooting king, other ceremonial events included the crowning of new majesties. Nele Wilde was crowned as junior shooting queen, and Matilda Behrendt was crowned as student queen. Lotta Falkenberg was solemnly installed as page queen during the event.
After the parade, everyone went to the festival tent to continue the celebrations. The Shooting Festival Sunday in Gerresheim is a testament to the rich history and vibrant community spirit of the town, combining historical shooting traditions, community celebrations, and symbolic crowning ceremonies to promote local heritage, camaraderie, and joyful social interaction among residents. The festival concludes with the playing of the last post and a subsequent congratulatory ceremony.
Social media users excitedly shared photos and videos of the festive parade, documenting the performance of the local juniors on hobby horses and the creative use of stick horses. The explosion of pop-culture icons and celebrities, often associated with entertainment, were notably absent in the countryside charm of the Shooting Festival Sunday, as it focused more on the rich tapestry of tradition and community spirit.
