Preetz Cultural Night

Preetz in the Plön District

Preetz is the town of shoemakers ("Schusterstadt") in the Plön district of the state of Schleswig-Holstein, southeast of Kiel. With just under 16,000 inhabitants, it is large enough to support its own cultural life, yet small enough to visit all the locations of a cultural night on foot in one evening. It is precisely these conditions that a volunteer team around Susanne Stökl, Erika and Gerhard Jaeger has been using since 2000 to organize the Preetz Cultural Night.

The Concept

On one February Friday, around a dozen locations in the town center open their doors simultaneously — town church, public library, adult education center, local history museum, Preetz art circle, Diakonie house, individual shops. Each room features a different program: a classical concert in the town church, jazz in the café, a reading in the library, an exhibition opening at the art circle, a theater snippet at the Diakonie house, a guided city walk, cabaret in the back room. You walk from door to door, catching snippets, not planning a fixed path — that's exactly what makes it appealing.

Opening and Identifying Feature

The Cultural Night traditionally opens at 6 PM in the town church by Mayor Tim Brockmann, accompanied musically by the brass band of the PTSV. The programs run until well after 10 PM — many locations don't end until around midnight.

What You'll Experience

• More than 20 program points simultaneously in the town center
• Classical, jazz, cabaret, readings, art, city tours
• Hands-on activities for families
• Encounters with artists, association members, neighbors
• No admission tickets, no ticket stress — all freely accessible

An Award-Winning Tradition

In 2023, the Margarete-Luise-Christina-Ruta and Marie-Helena-Ruta Foundation awarded the Ruta Prize to the Cultural Night — recognition for a format that keeps urban culture alive and makes volunteer work visible. Anyone who wants to experience Schleswig-Holstein away from the tourist hotspots should visit the Preetz Cultural Night in February.