Sommerfest Rethwisch

The Village Comes Together

The Sommerfest Rethwisch is one of those community festivals that sustain village life in Schleswig-Holstein. It spans an entire July weekend, bringing together residents from the seven districts — Rethwischdorf, Steensrade, Frauenholz, Tralauerholz, Altenweide, Klein Boden, and Treuholz — on the Pfarrwiese in the centre of Rethwischdorf. The format is classic yet effective: a parade, theatre, children's bird shooting, and a festival tent.

Three Programme Pillars

Over the years, three programme pillars have become established, making the Sommerfest unique:

• The parade through the municipality — colourfully decorated floats, traditional costumes, club delegations, and a marching band. The traditional meeting point is the village centre, from where the route leads along the main street to the Pfarrwiese.
• The children's bird shooting as a highlight for Rethwisch's youngest residents — a Northern German tradition staged here in a child-friendly manner, with wooden birds and small prizes instead of real weapons.
• The theatre performance in the community hall — an in-house production with amateur actors from the village, often in Low German or with Low German influences.

Club-Driven

The backbone of the festival is the club life surrounding VfL Rethwisch, which, with around 500 members, is remarkably strong for the size of the community. The programme is supplemented by the Christuskirche choir and activities from the Rethwischdorf youth club. The clubs themselves handle catering — a typical club buffet with beer, bratwurst, coffee, and cake, at local prices.

Rethwisch in the Stormarn District

Rethwisch is located in the Stormarn district in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, on the A1 motorway between Bad Oldesloe and Lübeck. The name derives from *Redewisch*, Old High German for 'reed meadow' — a reminder of the damp lowlands where the settlement originated. Until 1785, a stone castle from 1699 stood here; in 1773, serfdom was abolished and the estate lands were divided. Today, Rethwisch is a quiet commuter community with active club life — gastronomy, shops, and banks are located in the nearby town of Bad Oldesloe. The Sommerfest is all the more important as it forms the social centre of the village year.