Traditional folk festival and equestrian competition featuring the riders of the Tonnenbund Ahrenshoop, Alt- und Niehagen e.V.
The traditional “Tonnenabschlagen” takes place in Ahrenshoop every year on the third Sunday in July. It begins with a parade of riders from the Tonnenbund Ahrenshoop, Alt- und Niehagen e.V. through all the local districts. During the competition at the fairgrounds in Althagen in the afternoon, the riders—one after another on decorated horses—gallop toward a herring barrel suspended at a height of approximately 3 meters and strike it with a heavy wooden club. Whoever knocks off the last slats is crowned “Stäbenkönig” or “Stäbenkönigin,” and whoever finally knocks off the last piece of the barrel becomes the “Tonnenkönig” or “Tonnenkönigin” for one year. At the evening “Tonnenball,” the kings and queens are honored and celebrated in style with dancing to live music until late into the night.
