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June 12, 2013 - Vol. 107, No. 49
Fun Festival Times!
The 55th annual Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival concluded Sunday with warm temperatures and mostly sunny skies for the 115-unit parade. Above, Angela Lang is crowned the 2013 Bavarian Festival Princess by the 2012 Princess Morgan Townsend. Melanie Dohrmann and Kelsey Lafferty make up the 2013 court. The crowning took place at Saturday afternoon’s Princess Coronation Luncheon inside the Harvey Kern Community Pavilion. Below, the Frankenmuth High School Band performs on Main Street as one of the lead musical groups in the parade. Bill and Karen Zehnder were the parade Grand Marshals as the Bavarian Inn Restaurant marks its 125th anniversary. Family matriarch, Dorothy Zehnder, also rode in the parade with other members of the Zehnder family. A few current and past employees of the Inn also participated in the parade. (News photos)
55th Festival brought fun to Heritage Park
Angela Lang chosen 2013 Bavarian Princess
There were plenty of activities for persons of all ages at the 55th annual Bavarian Festival.
The four-day event ran Thursday through Sunday, with each day’s weather improving and drawing more people.
The Frankenmuth Civic Events Council (CEC) chose to honor the Bavarian Inn Restaurant as it marks its 125th anniversary, date back to the Fischer Hotel. Bill and Karen Zehnder were the grand marshals, walking the Bavarian Sunday Parade route. The theme for this year’s parade was “Our Family Serving Your Family.”
“I would personally like to thank my CEC board, all of our volunteers and sponsors for all the hard work and dedication in making the 2013 festival happen,” 2013 CEC President Brent Weiss said. “For next year, we would like to make Kinder Tag more of an event for Saturday by adding a kids Festival Olympics, expanding the sand sculpting competition and highlight the Princess Coronation.”
The festival opened with “Frankenmuth Night” and the activities included 2012 President Amanda Cormier receiving her past presidents’ brown vest and beer stein, 1998 President Jerry Thompson being awarded the Richard G. Krafft Award by Weiss for his service to the CEC and the festival and the official tapping of the first keg of beer by Frankenmuth Mayor Pro-Tem Art Loeffler.
Over the years, Thompson has been the voice of the festival during the many ceremonies in Heritage Park.
A total of 25 past presidents gathered in the Sommer Garten and were recognized at the fest.
Friday brought the raising of the May Pole and more music, including Tommy Schober and the Sounds of Sorgenbrecher and Die Lustigen Almdudler.
The Festival Olympics were contested, with the World Expo of Beer team taking first place, earning gift certificates and a traveling trophy.
On Saturday, the sun shone on the Kinder Tag Parade, which was followed by the Princess Coronation Luncheon. Angela Lang was crowned the 2013 Bavarian Princess, with Melanie Dohrmann and Kelsey Lafferty her Court attendants.
The Bavarian Festival Sand Sculpting Competition was held just outside the Sommer Garten. John Martinez and Mark Mischler won a glass trophy made by Russ Baker. They created the tiki hot tub. The duo also won the “People’s Choice” award.
The Kinder Tag activities were well received by the children as well as their parents. T.J. Schmidt Amusements had their rides and game in full gear all day long.
The Bavarian Sunday Parade was chaired by Shawn Marx and the weather for the 115-unit parade was ideal for fest goers as well at the participants.
The parade trophy winners were: Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland with the Chamber of Commerce Trophy; the Frankenmuth Noon Rotary Club won the Bavarian Festival Trophy; the Oehrlein Dancers won the Frankenmuth Trophy; the St. Patrick’s Day Parade float won the Gemuetlichkeit Trophy; the Sweet Potato Queen float earned the Mayor’s Trophy; and Saginaw County Commissioner Dennis Krafft earned the Most Unique Award.
The Polka Jam following the parade featured Frankentrost’s Polka Riot and Sorgenbrecher.
The barbecued chicken dinners saw the Noon Rotary, Jaycees and Richville American Legion Post #400 do very well, with the Rotary selling out and the other two groups coming very close. The Jaycees offered a pork dinner for the first time and they were well received. The Frankenmuth Lions Club reported brisk food and beverages sales in their Lion Haus.
A few commemorative German-made beer steins are left. They are $40 each and can be obtained by calling Amanda Cormier at 989-245-8869.
For more information, visit http://www.frankenmuthfestivals.com
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