100 flag wavers and more than
250 pairs of 'shooting' kings and queens
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A magnificent spectacle will take place in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler on 14-16 September. One of the main highlights is a procession through the medieval streets and lanes of Ahrweiler on the Sunday to the sound of music performed by around 70 shooting club bands. The occasion is this year's Bundesschützenfest festival during which delegations from more than 1,100 member organisations of the German Association of Historic Shooting Clubs will gather in the Ahr valley for the best part of the autumn wine festival season as guests of Ahrweiler's 604-year-old St. Sebastianus citizens' shooting club.
The festival's patron is no less a personage than the President of the German Parliament, Dr. Norbert Lammert, who, together with the Grand Master of Marksmanship, Hubertus Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, is responsible for the programme of events at this year's festival. The programme begins on Friday with a reception, an ecumenical church service and the laying of a wreath, followed by a gala evening in the festival tent at the Ahrtor gate during which the well-known wines of the Ahr valley will play a pivotal role. Ahrweiler's St. Sebastianus citizens' shooting club is an international rarity in that, for more than 400 years, it has managed its own vineyards and produced wine for its own festivals.
On Saturday, the emphasis is very much on the shooting competitions, which start at 8.30 a.m. The 'liquid brunch' concert starts at 11 a.m. At around 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the flag wavers demonstrate their skills at the big open-air concert followed by the announcement of the winners of the national shooting competitions after 5 p.m.
The day ends with an evening gala and show after 8 p.m during which the awards are presented.
After an ecumenical church service on the Sunday, the colourful parade sets off from the Ahr Stadium at 11.45 a.m. Up to 100 flag wavers, more than 250 pairs of 'shooting' kings and queens, approx. 30,000 marksmen and approx. 70 bands will march through Ahrweiler with its intact town wall, impressive town gates and pretty houses. Approx. 25,000 visitors are expected to attend the procession alone. Later in the afternoon, everyone takes to the town's squares and medieval lanes for the open-air concert.
For more information, go to
www.ahrtaltourismus.de and
www.bundesfest2007.de
Further information:
www.kurverwaltung-bad-neuenahr.de
Kurgartenstr. 1
D-53474 Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler
Tel. : +49 (0) 26 41 - 801-153
Fax : +49 (0) 26 41 - 801-198
e-mail: presse@kurverwaltung-bad-neuenahr.de
http://www.server.ag-bad-neuenahr.de/