Hafenfest Prerow — In Prerow vor Anker

Maritime Summer Festival on the Prerow-Strom

The Prerow Harbour is located on the Prerow-Strom, the connecting waterway between the Bodden and the sea, which divides the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula. Once a summer, the harbour becomes the scene of a maritime festival: "In Prerow vor Anker", a two-day harbour and dragon boat festival, organised by the Kur- und Tourismusbetrieb Prerow. It is one of the liveliest summer events on the Darß and attracts thousands of guests.

Dragon Boats as the Core of the Programme

The highlight is the dragon boat race, which dominates Saturday afternoon. Teams from Prerow clubs, hotels, families, and guests compete against each other in colourful dragon boats – a loud, cheerful, very accessible competition format that thrives on cheering from the jetties. New in recent editions: a tug-of-war between the dragon boat crews *with* their boats, a North German original creation that causes much amusement.

Arts and Crafts Market and Stage Programme

Parallel to the water sports, an arts and crafts market takes place at the harbour: jewellery, ceramics, floral arrangements, textiles, as well as stalls with smoked fish, fried fish, bratwurst, Lübzer Pils on tap, and maritime snacks. Live music is performed on the stage at the harbour – sea shanty choirs, rock cover bands, singer-songwriters, depending on the programme. After the award ceremony for the dragon boat competitions from approx. 8:00 PM, the festival transitions into a dance evening with live music and a DJ.

For Children: Pirate Meeting

Children have their own stage on Saturday morning: the Pirate Meeting with interactive competitions, skill games, treasure hunt, and a pirate show. In parallel, the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS) presents information, boat, and rescue demonstrations directly at the sea rescue station in Prerow harbour.

Prerow and its Maritime Identity

Prerow visibly carries its maritime history – the sailors' church, the old captains' houses, the harbour on the Prerow-Strom, the proximity to Darßer Ort and its lighthouse. The harbour festival reinforces this identity once a year and turns the harbour into a festival ground. Admission is free. Prerow is located in the district of Vorpommern-Rügen, on the border of the Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft National Park.