German Fest
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
German Fest is an ethnic festival in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at the Henry Maier Festival Park, on the Lake Michigan lakefront. It was first held in 1981 [1], and billed as the largest German celebration in North America. It occurs the last full weekend in July.
German Fest celebrates the culture of Germany as well as Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein and German speaking communities across the world. Along with traditional music, many from the Vaterland also make the journey to perform and educate at the festival.
Another attraction is the cultural tent, where one can see the various groups, and current provinces that are proud to call themselves "German". They range from Bavarians (Bayern), and Hessians (Hessen), to Austrians (Österreich), and groups displaced by WWII whose homelands are now in Poland (Polen) and the former Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia (Tschechoslowakei & Jugoslawien). This is in relation to former German settled areas and possessions prior to post-war border redrawing.
In the center area of the grounds periodically a parade will pass by showcasing the various German-American heritage organizations, local German immersion schools, and other people proud of their German heritage. One high school band traditionally featured in the parade is the Plymouth High School German Band directed by the highly recognizable Jason Sebranek.
German cuisine is also featured at German Fest. Many well known German restaurants and foodservices in the area are present at the fest, including Mader’s, and Bavarian Inn, as well as the biggest sausage maker in Milwaukee, Usingers. Usingers celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2005, in a joint anniversary of German Fest’s 25th anniversary.
