Name: Preetzer Schusterfest 2026
Start: 2026-05-29T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-05-31T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Innenstadt Preetz (Schustermeile, Hauptbühne, Cathrinplatz)

Schusterfest

About Schusterfest

Once a year, the small town on the Postsee lake pays homage to its historical craft tradition: for centuries, Preetz was the shoemaker town of the North German region and home to an important shoemakers' guild. From May 29th to 31st, 2026, the city center will transform into the traditional Schusterfest with its centerpiece, the Schustermeile — a series of craft stalls where master shoemakers present and sell handmade wooden shoes. The main stage features concerts, Cathrinplatz hosts its own children's festival, and for three days, the city center in the Plön district buzzes with festival atmosphere — the Schusterfest is one of Schleswig-Holstein's most traditional city festivals.

Dates 29 May — 31 May 2026

Venue Preetz (01057)

Prices Free

Status Confirmed

Edition 2026

Schusterfest — edition 2026

The Preetzer Schusterfest 2026 takes place from May 29th to 31st — Schustermeile with craft demonstrations, main stage with concerts and association presentations, dedicated children's festival at Cathrinplatz. The organizer is the City of Preetz; the festival stretches across the city center around the market square.

The 2026 Edition

The 2026 Schusterfest falls on the last weekend of May — as is traditional. The City of Preetz and its associations are preparing a three-day program that focuses on historical craftsmanship while integrating modern city festival elements.

The Schustermeile as an Anchor

The Schustermeile remains the identity-defining element of the festival — master shoemakers from the region and sometimes beyond present their handmade shoes, wooden clogs, and leather goods. It is one of the few city festivals in Schleswig-Holstein where a historical craft is showcased so prominently.

Highlights Schusterfest 2026

Schustermeile with handmade wooden shoes and leather goods
Main stage with music and association presentations
Dedicated children's festival at Cathrinplatz
Three days of festival atmosphere in the shoemaker town

Programme Schusterfest 2026

The detailed 2026 program will be published by the Preetz City Management and the City of Preetz in the weeks leading up to the festival. Expected schedule:

Friday, May 29, 2026

3:00 PM — Market opening with Schustermeile
Afternoon — Opening ceremony on the main stage
Evening — Concerts and festival opening until 12:30 AM

Saturday, May 30, 2026

10:30 AM — Schustermeile opens
Morning — Family program at the market square
Afternoon — Association presentations on the main stage, children's festival at Cathrinplatz
Evening — Main stage concerts and festival evening until 12:30 AM

Sunday, May 31, 2026

10:00 AM — Market opening with shortened stall hours
Morning — Family program and children's festival at Cathrinplatz
Afternoon — Final Schustermeile demonstrations, concluding concerts
9:30 PM — Festival concludes

Latest updates at preetz.de and via Preetz City Management.

Prices Schusterfest 2026

Admission to the festival mile is free. Food, game stalls, and craft stands are individually priced.

Practical information

Practical information — Schusterfest

Opening Hours

Friday 3:00 PM to 12:30 AM, Saturday 10:30 AM to 12:30 AM, Sunday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM.

Admission

Admission to the entire festival mile is free. Food, game stalls, and craft stands are individually priced.

Getting Here

By train to Preetz (Kiel–Lübeck line), then about a 10-minute walk to the market square. By car via the A21 (Preetz exit). Parking is available in the district parking lots; streets near the city center are closed during the festival.

The Shoemaker Town of Preetz

For centuries, Preetz was a center of the North German shoemaking craft — known for its wooden shoes, which were considered indispensable work tools in the marshy landscape of Schleswig-Holstein. This tradition remains present in the town's identity: Preetz officially calls itself Schusterstadt (shoemaker town) and annually celebrates its Schusterfest at the end of May, which brings the historical profession back to life.

The Schustermeile

The heart of the festival is the Schustermeile — a series of stalls where master shoemakers from the region and sometimes from all over the country present their handmade shoes. The focus is particularly on wooden shoes (Klompen), which shaped Preetz's historical craft. The mile is more than a market: it showcases the craft practice, the carving, the fitting — and the commitment to keeping a craft tradition alive.

Main Stage and Association Presentations

A diverse program takes place on the main stage in the city center around the market square: music of various styles, performances by local bands, presentations by Preetz associations, cultural contributions, and scientific presentations that enrich the festival content. The bands range from classic Schlager acts to rock ensembles.

The Children's Festival at Cathrinplatz

Parallel to the main festival, a dedicated children's festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Cathrinplatz — with numerous hands-on activities, skill stations, games, and child-friendly program items. The children's festival makes the Schusterfest a complete family event.

In the Plön District

Preetz is located on the Postsee lake in the Plön district in the state of Schleswig-Holstein — a small town of about 16,000 inhabitants with a dense network of associations. Its location between Kiel and Plön makes Preetz easily accessible for day-trippers from both cities. The organizer is the City of Preetz, with the participation of local associations, economic development agencies, and cultural institutions.

One Weekend, Three Days

The Schusterfest spans three days — Friday to Sunday — offering space for different experience formats: Friday features a classic festival opening with market activities and evening concerts, Saturday is the highlight with the full Schustermeile and children's festival, and Sunday is Family Day with a calmer atmosphere and an earlier conclusion.