Schilksee District Festival

Schilksee: North of Kiel and Olympic Sailing Venue

Schilksee is the northernmost district of the state capital Kiel and is located directly on the western fjord. In 1972, the Olympic Sailing Centre was built here for the Summer Olympics in Munich — an architectural icon of the early 70s that still shapes Kiel's sailing scene today. The district has around 6,000 inhabitants and is characterized by sandy beaches, the harbour, and the wide promenade, the Schilkseer Meile. Schilksee belongs to the independent city of Kiel in the state of Schleswig-Holstein.

The District Festival: The Annual Meeting of Schilksee Residents

The district festival has been held for many years on the first Saturday in September — usually at the beginning of September, at the end of the summer holidays in Schleswig-Holstein. Associations, sports clubs, the church community, and the city marketing present themselves with stands, information, hands-on activities, and tasting opportunities. The Olympic 'Schlangenlinie' becomes a marketplace: art, handicrafts, food, and drinks from regional farm shops mixed with local gastronomy.

Program and Highlights

The stage program usually starts around 11 am and lasts until the late afternoon. Dance groups, karate clubs, and school choirs from Schilksee schools are regular features, complemented by local bands from the north of Kiel. For children, there is a children's rally, craft stations, bouncy castles, and guided tours through the Olympic Centre. The traditional flea market at the Flying Dutchman — named after the Olympic sailing ship symbol located here — has been a magnet for bargain hunters for years.

2026: 50 Years of Olympic Sailing

The 2026 District Festival is part of the ongoing celebrations for the anniversary '50 Years of Olympic Sailing Competitions in Kiel,' initiated by the city under the motto Kiel.Sailing.City.. This gives the festival an additional historical accent in 2026.