The last Schützenfest we have just from the bones, as already begin the first considerations for the next of the following year. Was the occupancy of the fairground in order? Did the visitors agree with the dance music? The leases of the showmen and the host are reviewed and renegotiated. The music groups for next year will be selected and ordered.

A few months before the Schützenfest, the Schützenthrone makes its preparations. One is busy making a variety of paper flowers for decorating the king's chariot, the throne car and the royal throne. The sociability is of course not too short. A new (throne) community has been formed, so willed and encouraging for fellowship in the village. 

In the last month before the festival, it becomes serious for the board of the Schützenverein. Now it is time to put the full focus on the preparation of the work for the Schützenfest. In a board meeting all necessary work is distributed to the individual board members. Over the years, a multi-page work sheet has already developed, so that one can already speak of a certain routine and experience. It has been proven that the board members also write down their duties; because it has already happened that somebody fell off the bicycle after the session on the way home. The memory seems to suffer a bit on the following day.

What would a club life be without bureaucracy? Of course we need an official permit from the district for our festival march, which is also available in time for the festival. Two weeks before the festival, our posters are hanging in all shops and on the billboards in the town and the surrounding area to announce the shooting festival. Large signs at the entrances also announce the upcoming event.

Special changes are announced to the people by means of a circular.

One week before the festival, the first showmen arrive at the fairground and the marquee is set up during the week.

With the children’s king shooting traditionally begins the weekend before Ascension of Christ the Schützenfest. To be a king or a queen once in a lifetime is one of the things that counts for young people today.

A few years ago, some parents had extra money if their children did not attend the king's shooting. The effort for the preparations was supposedly too big. This is, thank goodness, a thing of the past.  Loose clothing for the children's kings and a workload for the parents reduced to a minimum by the board have borne fruit and a joint trip to the Thüler zoo or to the bowling center in Cloppenburg is now over Highlight among the young people.

In time 1pm the board driving with the tractor and car to get to the green in the Eleonora Forest. The cut green is immediately put in place in the grid walls for the throne construction.

The construction of the throne in the marquee, the preparation of the shooting range for the king shooting and decorating the fairground with entrance flags and the adjacent streets with colorful flags is then carried out with a well-rehearsed team.

In the marksman king, the members of the thron in joyful anticipation of the coming day, a richly decorated reception arch in the entrance of the property, partly on the road. The adornment of the route (Kings Avenue) to the fairground with fir green or oak leaves with colorful flowers and flags as well as adorning the throne with paper flowers is reserved for the Sunday morning, otherwise you can expect after the youth dance in the evening maybe with a little loss. Finally, together with the board, a bow of fir green and a king shield are placed in the marquee.

The other inhabitants meanwhile clean our place out by mowing grass and sweeping. Flags on the houses and across the streets bring even the last undecided in festive mood.

Where does today's youth meet? - Of course, in Gehlenberg on the Schützenfest!

Where you used to go to the party at 8 pm, today you go to the preheat (before drinking) to good friends and acquaintances in their hut or garden.Then, with the right mood, the party starts at 11.00 pm from outside, they then push into the marquee to meet new or old acquaintances, where once the normal dance band attracted the young, today it is the combination of band and DJ, and visits from 40 are not aberrations, but members of the reigning royal throne do not miss the opportunity to pay a visit to the youth dance and enjoy their first shooting beer: between four and five o'clock or later the last guests have let off steam in the morning.

The youth dance has left here and there hall damage. This does not let the board rest. In the morning all board members have started to clean the fairground and the access roads. Finally, the fairground should look clean at the arrival of the Schützenmarch and leave a good impression. The last visitors of the youth dance, who have slept in the car their drunkenness or are still partly on the road, pulled away until noon without the help of the board.

Right on time at 9.00 o'clock, the flags arrangement, the board, King and Queen of the Schützenverein Gehlenberg and the brothers club Neuvrees, together with the pastor and the sounds of the Chapel, move into the church for the festive holy mass. Altar boy and girl and Lektor are traditionally provided by the board. After the solemn service, the people and the Chapel march to the shared morning pint at Hütten Bernd (local pub). There is little alcohol here, because every member of the board and also the royal couple is aware of the duty and tasks that are still waiting for them of the board because of the organization are met, yes, the first tension is already set.

Now the fifth season has finally started for all people. It is 1pm. The people of the companies compete at their company outlets. Whether restaurant Reiners for the company Neulorup, the restaurant Behnen for the company Sandriegen, the restaurant Hodes for the company Schützenstrasse, family Bohlsen for the company Hinterberg and the family Budde for the company Neustadt, every shooter knows where he can enjoy his first party beer.

The Schützen chapel Gehlenberg and the Schützen chapel Neuvrees, together with other guest bands and musicians, ensure the right accompaniment during the performance and later at the festival march.

After the free beer, all shooters enter with a wooden rifle, lovingly decorated with flowers, in rank and file. The companies then march individually to the village park with brass music. From 2 pm on, the companies will arrive one after the other here and will set up there under the supervision of the Major.

Early on, the Honorary President and the Colonel were picked up by carriage to set off for the king. Experience has shown here that the entire throng sequence has already gathered and finely spruced up. For a long time, they worked and feasted on this day. Today, the grand finale of the King's Year is to be celebrated vigorously.

The royal couple is the main characters in the hustle and bustle already noted the tension. A last schnapps is offered for the relaxation and at the same time to cheer several times by the throne sequence and partly gratefully accepted.Through a large bow and festively decorated streets, the royal couple with the entire throne sequence and honorary members and guests of honor now to the village square.

The Major has received the reports of the company commander and has now all the shooters to receive the majesties with stand still lineup and present the rifle.With the inspection march drive the royal couple and Colonel with the carriage before. All eyes are of course on the Queen how could it be otherwise, of course, the dress of the queen is especially examined by the ladies.

The colonel let to stand at ease all the shooters and welcomes the participants of the Schützenmarch and the visitors.A special highlight on Sunday is the coronation of the Children's King Couple.After the greetings, promotions and honors, the Colonel hands over the command to the Major, who leads the festival march to the fairground.

With a musical accompaniment from the bands and a colorful group of schoolchildren, the shooters, the guest clubs, delegations of local clubs and the royal carriage along with succession and guests of honor is a long festival march direction Parkstr. and Gehlenberger Kirchstr. moving.

After a wreath for the deceased soldiers of the 1st and 2nd world wars was laid down on the war memorial, the festival march goes over the main road and the Hinterberg to the fairground at Tannenweg.

After the honorary dance of the majesties and the throne success, the royal couples are accompanied to the throne. Now the time has finally come for the king to welcome his guests and all the shooters and visitors in the fully occupied marquee are in a festive mood. The bands also do their best at the concert in the marquee. Meanwhile, the board worries about the physical well-being of the guests of honor and guest clubs. The big ball announces itself at 17.00 clock with a honorary dance of the royal couple. With the dance band is now quite good mood.

The child kings couple does not have it easy. Butter cake and a lot of soda are served on the throne. Many hands have to be shaken in the afternoon. But at 18:00 o'clock ends with the musical march with Schützenverein flag the obligations of the child’s kings couple. Now they have time to experience the bustle on the fairground.

The royal couple enjoys the last day of regency and celebrates with the throne. All visitors are now in a hurry to pay their respects to their king and enjoy the last dances. Because at 9pm o'clock there is also for the big king a musical march with flag. Too bad, a nice day can pass so quickly! But the early end also has a good side: All shooters are well rested for the following holiday on Monday.

If others turn around comfortably in bed, it means for the  board early in the morning at 6.00 clock at the old  King to wake up. With loud marching music from the loudspeaker car, the king is awakened. As a thank you, the king presents the board the first schnapps for today, the members flush down due to the early morning hours with some frightening facial expressions.

With a friendly voice and brisk marching music, it then goes through all the streets of Gehlenberg to awaken the shooters and invite them to worship together. A welcome change to come out of the cramped interior of a pickup truck, offers for the board at one or the other refueling stop (short course (schnapps), or for one or the other Hubertus gastric drops (like Jägermeister)). After a hearty breakfast, the solemn at 8:30 am for the fallen members of the shooting club.

The awakening was obviously successful, because many shooters have already appeared for worship. There are, thankfully, faces that one otherwise or not at all sees in the church. Perhaps it is because of the fact that the pastor makes an exception at the end of the fair once a year and tells a few jokes to get in the mood for the special day. After the Mass, marching music will go to the fairground. In the marquee, the colonel drops off to the morning pint. With sandwiches and free beer now begins for many Gehlenberger coziest part of the annual shooting festival.

A big raffle provides entertainment and the Rifle Band really gets the mood going. It is drunk, they talk and it is of course much speculated about who the new King will be. Visitors can experience live on two television screens how shooters prove their accuracy on the shooting range. The mood is at its peak when the sting of the kings candidates is transferred and the faces of the contenders change permanently between tension, relief, disappointment and joy.

After the successful kingshot the marksman king will carry wirh music and on the shoulders of the neighbors in the raging marquee. With the enthronement of the new king and an honorary dance for the old and the new royal couple, the morning shopping ends at 1pm.

Now all the members of the throne have to be informed, a new dress has to be produced and of course the walk to the barber is under way, astonishingly the impossible is done and the throne is at 4pm Watch well styled and dressed at the King.

The riflemen have recovered at this time from the brunch and gather at the pub. From here it goes this time with the Rifle Chapel and the shooters to the village park to receive the new majesties.The new royal couple is greeted joyfully, the colonel The coronation takes place and then the parade marches in good spirits on the way the day before directly to the fairground.After the honorary dance of the royal couple and the throne success, a good cup of coffee and a piece of cake already the first visitors to the royal throne.

On Monday evening, the actual Schützenfest takes place for most Gehlenberger. Street by street, visitors arrive early to get hold of a good seat. In front of a fully occupied marquee, the royal couple opened the grand coronation ball with a dance of honor. The dance band ensures that there is a lot of dancing and singing. With a bottle of wine and the best wishes traditionally goes to the royal throne. Only after midnight does the onslaught on the throne become less. If you have to work the other day, it is your own fault, and so it is celebrated until 3.00 clock in the morning vigorously.

But everything beautiful and good has an end. The throne is led out of the marquee by the band and the board. With the archery flag in front, many visitors accompany the royal couple home, where the party then finally fades away.

On Tuesday morning it is very quiet in Gehlenberg. Children are looking for lost treasures on the fairground, while the showmen are already busy with the mining. In the afternoon, the board and the former and reigning majesties dare to cover themselves again. It is the time of settlement with the tent host. In the evening, the board steps to clear the fairground. It's interesting what things leave some people. Whether jacket or panties (!), The selection is always great. At the end of the clean-up campaign, a barbecue will be held together. This tastes good to everyone. Schnapps on the other hand are less in demand that day - what a miracle!

It is Saturday before Pentecost. The board marches with the support of the Rifle Chapel with the king disc to the new king. The royal disc is to be attached as an external sign of the royal dignity on the house gable. The entire throne together with relatives and acquaintances have come to attend this spectacle. After the musicians have finished their performance, the mischief takes its course. The women of the throne of the king take great possession of the king's disc. Some uniforms, glasses or teeth have already suffered here. Whether with disc dummies, the way over the house roof or other finesse tries the board to get closer to the goal. A box of beer and a bottle of schnapps were wrested from the board in negotiations as a trigger and the king disc hangs immediately at their predetermined location. The celebrations of the festival then come to a happy end with a cozy celebration.