Tonnenabschlagen Dierhagen
Three-day equestrian game and folk festival at the Baltic Sea resort
About Tonnenabschlagen Dierhagen
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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.
Tonnenabschlagen Dierhagen — edition 2026
The 2026 edition falls on the second weekend of August and follows the established program. Friday, August 7, begins with a party and the fireworks display over the festival grounds. Saturday, August 8, is the main day: from 10:00 AM, a colorful market, from 2:30 PM, the festival parade of riders through Dierhagen Strand, from 3:30 PM, entry to the festival grounds with a children's program, from 5:00 PM, the Tonnenabschlagen — followed by the crowning and the Tonnenball with live bands and an open-air disco until the early morning.
On Sunday, August 9, the weekend concludes with a family program. The exact artist lineup for the Tonnenball and the detailed program will be published before the festival on the Tonnenbund Dierhagen website.
Programme Tonnenabschlagen Dierhagen 2026
Friday, August 7, 2026
- Evening — Party at the festival grounds
- Late evening — Grand fireworks display over Dierhagen Strand
Saturday, August 8, 2026 — Main Day
- 10:00 AM — Opening of the colorful market on the festival grounds
- 2:30 PM — Festival parade of riders through Dierhagen Strand
- 3:30 PM — Entry to the festival grounds
- 3:30 PM–5:00 PM — Children's program with "Knüppel in die Tonne kloppen" (Hitting sticks into the barrel) for the little ones
- 5:00 PM — Start of the Tonnenabschlagen — Riders galloping against the herring barrel
- After the tournament ends — Crowning of Bottom King, Pole King, and Barrel King
- Evening until early morning — Tonnenball with live music and open-air disco
Sunday, August 9, 2026
- Daytime — Family program, market, festival wind-down
Detailed program: ostseebad-dierhagen.de and tonnenbund-dierhagen.de.
Highlights Tonnenabschlagen Dierhagen 2026
- Fireworks display on Friday evening
- Festival parade of riders on Saturday afternoon
- Tonnenabschlagen with the crowning of three kings
- Tonnenball with live music and open-air disco until morning
- UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2017
- Children's program with interactive barrel game
Prices Tonnenabschlagen Dierhagen 2026
Admission details for the festival grounds will be announced before the festival via Ostseebad Dierhagen and Tonnenbund Dierhagen. For the Tonnenball on Saturday evening, a moderate entrance fee or consumption voucher is typically charged. Food and drinks at stalls are paid for individually. Information at 038226 201 or [email protected].
Practical information — Tonnenabschlagen Dierhagen
Getting there
By car via the B105 and L21 to Dierhagen Strand, signposted parking near the beach. By train to Ribnitz-Damgarten West, then by bus or taxi.
Admission & Contact
Admission details for the festival grounds will be announced before the festival on the websites of Ostseebad Dierhagen and Tonnenbund Dierhagen. Information at 038226 201 or by email to [email protected].
Tip
The festival weekend is the highlight of the summer in Dierhagen — book accommodation well in advance. Those who want to experience the festival parade should arrive in town by 2:30 PM at the latest on Saturday.
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Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Tonnenabschlagen Dierhagen al mejor precio.
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