Tonnenabschlagen Dierhagen

One of the largest Tonnenabschlagen on the peninsula

The Tonnenabschlagen Dierhagen is arguably the most extensive version of this traditional equestrian custom on Fischland-Darß-Zingst. Over three days, the festival grounds in Dierhagen Strand transform into a folk festival with an equestrian tournament, market, children's program, and dance evening. The equestrian game itself — on Saturday afternoon — follows the traditional choreography: riders gallop against a herring barrel hung between two poles, with the aim of smashing the last pieces.

Three days of programming

The festival weekend begins on Friday with a party and a large fireworks display. Saturday is the main day: from 10:00 AM, a colorful market with vendors opens, from 2:30 PM, the festival parade of riders forms through the town, from 3:30 PM, entry to the festival grounds, followed by the children's program, and from 5:00 PM, the actual Tonnenabschlagen. Afterwards, the Tonnenball with live music and an open-air disco follows, lasting until the early morning. Sunday also offers a family program.

Bottom King, Pole King, Barrel King

The three titles are traditionally awarded according to the order in which the barrel is destroyed: Bodenkönig (Bottom King) for the destruction of the bottom, Stäbenkönig (Pole King) for the poles, Tonnenkönig (Barrel King) for the last piece. The crowning of the new kings takes place late Saturday evening as part of the Tonnenball — an emotional highlight in the village life of the Baltic Sea resort.

Dierhagen Strand and the Tonnenbund

Dierhagen, at the western end of the Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula (Vorpommern-Rügen district, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern), preserves the Tonnenabschlagen through the Tonnenbund Dierhagen e.V. — an organized association that reliably manages the festival for decades. Since 2017, the Tonnenabschlagen has been part of Germany's UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.