Schützen- und Kinderfest Berkenthin

Marksmen Tradition in the Duchy of Lauenburg

Berkenthin is located in the north of the district of Herzogtum Lauenburg—a region with a vibrant marksmen tradition. As in many North German villages, the local Marksmen's Guild is an important pillar of community life: it cultivates shooting as a sport, organizes the annual marksmen's festival, and thus shapes social life.

The Schedule on Whitsun

The event spans several days over the Whitsun weekend and combines classic marksmen's festival elements with a family-oriented Children's Festival:

• Marksmen's Assembly and Shooting for the Volkskönig title — Saturday/Sunday mornings
• Crowning Ceremony with the proclamation of the 19th Berkenthin Volkskönig and trophy presentation — Saturday evening
• Festival Ball with live music in the sports center — Saturday evening
• Festival Parade through the town — Whitsun Sunday afternoon
• Children's Festival with attractions and music groups — Whitsun Sunday

Live Music and Dancing

The Festival Ball in the Berkenthin sports center, with live music, is a special highlight for the adult part of the event—the Marksmen's Guild invites its members and guests to an evening that transitions the day of shooting competitions into a dancing mood.

The Children's Festival

In parallel to the classic marksmen's festival, the Guild organizes its own Children's Festival on Whitsun Sunday: hands-on attractions, small competitions, a parade through the town, and performances by local music groups make the event a family-friendly Whitsun activity for the entire region.

In the District of Herzogtum Lauenburg

Berkenthin is a municipality belonging to the Amt Berkenthin with around 1,700 inhabitants in the district of Herzogtum Lauenburg in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. Its central location between Lübeck and Mölln makes the municipality attractive for day trips from both cities.