Kickstarting the age-old summer tradition, the Ball of the Kings commences in Dusseldorf.
In the heart of Düsseldorf, the Rhine terraces reverberated with excitement as the annual Ball of the Kings took place on March 25th. This traditional event, significant for the marksmen clubs (Schützenvereine) in the city, is a prestigious social gathering and celebration that honours the reigning marksmen kings and their clubs.
The Ball of the Kings serves as a central ceremonial occasion where the kings from different marksmen associations come together, fostering camaraderie and community identity among the clubs in Düsseldorf. The event symbolizes both a recognition of skill and a key cultural and social event within the marksmen fraternity in the city.
This year, Andreas Palm was crowned the city king, while Bodo and Steffi Hentsch, as well as Max Ax and Christian Boss, were particularly honoured. In fact, Bodo and Steffi Hentsch from the St. Sebastianus Marksmen Brotherhood Unterrath were regimental king couple in 2022 and city king couple in the current year.
The evening began with a colourful entrance of flags and standards, accompanied by the Marine Tambour Corps Unterrath and the Spielmannszug Blau-Weiß Garath. The royal couples, including Bodo and Steffi Hentsch, made their entrance on the stage, followed by great cheers from different regiments as their own royal couples walked down the middle aisle towards the stage.
Britta Damm, chairwoman of the Interest Group of Düsseldorf Marksmen (IGDS), explained that the procession of the royal couples through the line of marksmen from many clubs is a grand spectacle. After the official part, the ball started, which was opened by Bodo and Steffi Hentsch with the honorary dance.
The show acts for the evening included the trio "Nordstars," the "Drummerholics," and the Werstener Show Fanfares, adding to the festive atmosphere. Bodo and Steffi Hentsch, who were regimental king couple in 2022, admitted that they made a mistake by walking past the stage entrance during their regimental king couple appearance in the previous year. Determined to avoid a repeat, they had practiced thoroughly for the Ball of the Kings.
Some regimental kings have waited a year for the platform of the Ball of the Kings, which is very emotional. The king's silver was set aside for the dance part of the ball, making the evening a night to remember for all involved. The Ball of the Kings continues to be an annual meeting point for regimental kings and queens of the IGDS clubs, as well as the city king couple, strengthening the bonds within the marksmen community in Düsseldorf.
The Ball of the Kings, a culturally significant event within the marksmen fraternity of Düsseldorf, not only celebrates the reigning marksmen kings but also serves as a platform to bring together different home-and-garden clubs, fostering camaraderie and unity. The lifestyle of the marksmen community in Düsseldorf is vividly displayed in this grand annual event, where home-and-garden clubs showcase their pride and traditions.
