Kaköhl bei Nacht

A Guild with 300 Years of History

The Kaköhler Totengilde of 1723 is a traditional association with roots in the 18th century. Such Totengilden (death guilds) emerged in Northern Germany as neighbourhood self-help associations: they ensured that every member received a dignified burial in case of death and that the family was not left alone. Over the centuries, this solidarity in burial and death evolved into broader community functions — today, the guilds are primarily custodians of traditions and community life in the villages. With over 300 years, the Kaköhler Totengilde is one of the oldest still active of its kind in the Probstei region.

Kaköhl and Blekendorf in the Probstei

Kaköhl is a district of the municipality of Blekendorf in the district of Plön, located in the historic Probstei landscape — the eastern coastal region between Kiel and Lübeck. The Probstei is predominantly agricultural, with small villages, farm structures, and its own compact cultural identity. Sehlendorfer Strand, belonging to the municipality of Blekendorf, is a popular bathing beach on the Hohwacht Bay — and the venue for the festival.

"The wonderful festival as everyone has known it for years"

The organizers describe the festival with a simple sentence: "The wonderful festival as everyone has known it for years". Nothing more is needed — and that's exactly what makes its charm. It's not a media-hyped event, but a village occasion for guild members, their families, and friends, supplemented by guests holidaying in the region. The evening typically runs from 6 PM to 11 PM: welcome, communal meal, music (often regional, Low German songs, sometimes a small live band), dancing, cosy campfire atmosphere on the beach.

Who can participate?

The festival is primarily a club event, but traditionally open to guests. Anyone holidaying in Hohwacht, Sehlendorf, Lütjenburg, or the surrounding area who happens to pass by will usually be warmly welcomed. It is not a ticketed event — the guild's catering is offered for a small fee.

A Northern German Form of Sociability

Anyone visiting the Kaköhl festival gets an impression of a form of village life that still exists in Schleswig-Holstein: small, old communities that cherish their traditions without turning them into a tourist product. In the age of mega-events, this has become rare — and precisely why it is so valuable.