Whether it’s notes from the Rhein Valley Brass band you hear, the stained glass windows of its old brick clubhouse you see, or the stick-to-your-ribs food you taste, Germania Maennerchor is never lacking in personality. There’s no better way to check out that trademark flare for yourself than at Volksfest.
Dressed in traditional German garb – dirndl for women, lederhosen for men – many of the club’s loyal members will serve their signature brand of fun at the annual heritage festival Aug. 1-3. Running 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on 916 N. Fulton Ave., attendees can try bratwurst, pig knuckles, mashed potatoes, kraut balls, German potato salad, and more outside Germania Maennerchor’s beer garden and inside its 111-year-old clubhouse.
This annual event has celebrated German culture with food, music, and community since the first Volksfest in 1934, and the community turns out: Volksfest 2019 welcomed 10,000 people. It serves as a cultural celebration and a significant fundraiser for Germania Maennerchor.
Attracting thousands to Evansville’s Cedar Hall neighborhood every year, Volksfest is a reminder of the German heritage that persists throughout much of Evansville’s West Side. Veteran members note that the Germania Maennerchor also serves as a second family for many residents who share German ancestry.
“I’ve been a singer with Germania Maennerchor since 1994, and for the past couple of years, I’ve been flying up here (from Florida) just to work the Volksfest before my wife and I came back last August,” longtime member Mike Deicken says.
What keeps its members and fans coming back year after year? Germania Maennerchor’s President Jim Kluesner says it is a mix of “diehard dedication” along with the sense of identity formed through celebrating shared heritage. It’s what has kept him coming back since 1982.
“It makes you feel like you are part of something bigger, and, you know, we make a lot of lifelong friends along the way,” Kluesner said. “If you have German heritage, you should try to preserve it. That’s what we do with our Volksfest – preserving our heritage through music and food.”
Planning to get your Gemuetlichkeit on at this year’s Volksfest? Here’s what you should know.
The opening ceremony kicks off at 6 p.m. on Aug. 1 with the ceremonial tapping of the first keg. Admission is free for all ages before 2 p.m. each day. After 4 p.m. daily, admission is $5 for those 21 and older. Attendees 25 and younger should have two forms of government photo IDs.
Come hungry, because Germania Maennerchor’s volunteer cooks put out a spread that would dazzle any meat-and-potatoes fan. Meals of bratwurst, kraut balls, German potato salad, and more cost $14. Service starts at 11 a.m. daily.
Wash that hearty meal down with some suds. This year’s beer offerings include Spaten’s Oktoberfest, an amber-colored Maerzen straight from Bavarian beer recipes. Prefer lighter hops? Spaten’s premium light lager will be on tap, too.
What German party is complete without music? Bring your polka dancing shoes for daily tunes played by Cincinnati Schnapps, Rathskeller Band, and Evansville’s Rhein Valley Brass.
From 8 to 11 each night, the beer garden stage features a rotating lineup of headliners, including Tony Henning on Thursday, country and rock cover band Haywire on Friday, and classic rock band Retro Shock on Saturday.
Children 12 years and younger can enjoy a kids’ corner from 9 a.m. to noon on Aug. 3, with free food, backpacks, school supplies, an Evansville Fire Department fire truck, and more. For adults, don’t miss the daily half-pot raffle.
