The regimental queen is being honored in a festive ceremony by the Bilker Schützen for the first time.
The Bilker Marksmen's Children's Shooting Festival, a cherished tradition in the Bilk district of Düsseldorf, Germany, recently took place. This annual event is a celebration of the region's centuries-old marksmen tradition, blending cultural heritage with modern fun for children and families.
Jan Kasparek, representing Germania Company, was declared the new regimental king and will be traditionally crowned on July 1st. The reigning majesties, Regimental Queen Sarah Walterbach and the Young Marksmen King Pair Ben and Natalie Altenberg, were in a carriage during the parade, led by the Regimental Tambour Corps St. Martin.
The parade, despite high temperatures, featured horses and carriages, with Regimental Queen Sarah Walterbach driving the carriage to Ubierstraße herself. Children from the Ubierstraße kindergarten and many other neighborhood children participated in the parade, dressed in traditional attire, accompanied by marching bands and floats.
The festival also included children's shooting competitions, where nine-year-old Leyla Daun became the first children's queen of the Bilker Marksmen by shooting down the children's bird. Leon Halder was crowned the new Young Marksmen King at the shooting stand.
In addition to the shooting competitions, the festival offered a variety of cultural events. These included music, dancing, games, and other activities that celebrated local customs and community spirit. On Saturday, societies paraded through Bilk, with a visit to Café Grenzenlos.
The actual shooting festival program started on Friday evening with the opening of the fair and live music performances. The Free Shooting Company, which includes youth from the neighborhood, celebrated its 100th anniversary during the festival. The Andreas Hofer - Hubertus Hunters of 1925 also marked their centenary during the festivities.
On shooting festival Sunday, all music groups gave their place concert at the Bilker Church. The Saturday program began in the afternoon with a church service and parade, followed by a show program of the young marksmen. Laura Breuer and Lienne Tressin were proclaimed school king and school queen, respectively.
For exact dates, detailed schedules, and lists of participants or events, the best sources would be local Bilk community websites, the official Bilk marksmen’s club organization, or city event calendars of Düsseldorf. Unfortunately, no specific search results from the available data confirm those details. However, the Bilker Marksmen's Children's Shooting Festival remains a beloved tradition in Düsseldorf, continuing to introduce children safely to the region's rich marksmen heritage under community supervision.
During the festival, children's shooting competitions were held, with nine-year-old Leyla Daun becoming the first children's queen by shooting down the children's bird. In the same event, Leon Halder was crowned the new Young Marksmen King.
