The march of the Diepenheim Shooters comprises three elements: the announcement of the march, a week before the actual feast, the parade along the old town hall and the three castles, on the day itself, and finally the highlight: the popular games. The announcement is done by Klepperderk, the town crier, and the members of the shooters board, accompanied by drummers and the roaming orchestra ‘De Kleppers’. They make a round tour through Diepenheim to invite the inhabitants for the feast, a week later. The parade and the popular feast always take place on the Saturday afternoon of the last full weekend in September. The parade consists of officers, many others with a specific position, the shooters king and his royal wife and the youth king’s couple, all in traditional costumes. Furthermore the Harmony Diepenheim, the Stedeker Krummels and the National Riding Association take part in the parade. Buffoons play a special role in it. They are played by unmarried young men. Their costume differs from that of the other members and their hands and faces are blackened. The buffoons have the longstanding right to blacken unmarried girls during the parade. The parade passes the old town hall and the three inhabited castles. At the town hall the parade is welcomed by the Mayor and Aldermen and at the castles by the residents. The king’s couples are presented to the castle residents by the captain and they receive presents. The parade finally moves to the festival grounds, where the popular games take place. They comprise the king’s shooting for the men, bird throwing for the women, kuipsteken (ring tilting variety) and musical chairs. The winners of the king’s shooting and the bird throwing form the new shooters king’s couple that may take part in next year’s parade.
