2011 Festival Highlights

•                 Continuous live music at 3 stages from local Germanic and ethnic bands, and our strolling button box artist from Germantown, Wisc.  Our featured band is Austrian Express from Milwaukee, Wisc.

•                    Large 56’ by 40’ wooden dance floor (in the Fest Zelt – the main tent: a 100 foot by 265 foot clear span tent with no poles!  Made in Germany, just like at the Oktoberfest!) for dancing enjoyment, plus other dance floors on the Festival grounds.

•                    Over 70 acres of free, lighted parking with people movers to deliver you to the main entrance gate on Seaman Street.  Parking areas can be entered from Starr Avenue, Corduroy Road or Seaman Street.  People movers operate continuously in a 27 acre parking area accessible from Seaman Road or Corduroy Road.  Other entrance gates are accessible from Starr or Seaman lots.  Rain or shine parking at Starr Elementary School, Fassett Middle School and Clay High School (East lot) lots with shuttle bus service between these lots and the Festival grounds. 

•                    Handicapped parking available from Seaman Road.  Free handicapped shuttle on Festival grounds.

•                    Shuttle bus service from five Toledo-area parking lots deliver you right to the gate and safely return you to your car.

•                    Opening ceremony with parade featuring colorful costumes and pageantry through the Festival grounds.

•                    How fast can you eat soft, baked pretzels? Join the Brezelessen (pretzel eating) competition!

•                    The goal is simple: Lift and hold a 1 liter stein, filled with beer, straight out with your arm level to the ground!  “Masskrugstemmen,” which translates loosely to the lifting of a liter mug of beer, is a well-known and a competitive Bavarian sport. The “Masskrug,” a 1 Liter Stein is held with one arm, completely stretched out and parallel to the floor!   Sound easy?  The current U.S. record is 14 minutes, 7 seconds! Contest starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

•                    Hummel Look-Alike Contest is a contest for all children from 2 to 10 years of age by pre-application.  The children dress like the famous Hummel figurines with prizes awarded for the most authentic look-alike.  This is the longest running similar contest in the U.S. (Sunday afternoon)

•                    Schwabenhalle Outdoor Pavilion renamed the Hofbräuhalle features rain or shine entertainment throughout the day and evening.

•                    Old World-style outdoor Bier & Wein Garten under the trees will feature large umbrella tables.  A wooden dance floor with continuous German polkas and waltzes featured there.  Watch for special performances by our folklore dance group – the Holzhacker Buam Schuhplattler – as well as other folklore dance groups from the Midwest.  Watch for our special guest Schuhplatter: the STV “Bavaria” from Cleveland, Ohio and “Edelweiss” from Detroit, Michigan.

•                    Designated Driver Program –The Guest Services Booth will again have information on responsible alcohol consumption and will distribute coupons to the “Designated Driver” to be used for three complimentary soft drinks to enjoy while visiting the Festival.

•                    Raffle – A super 50/50 raffle with prizes will be awarded each evening and final drawing on Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m.  Winners need not be present. Tickets are 3 for $5.

•                    The Festival is spread over 10 wooded acres providing an authentic German atmosphere.

•                    Returning amusement rides in 2011 include rides such as: Berry-Go-Round, Carnival Trains, Himalaya, Merry-Go-Round, Paratroopers, Scat, Tilt-A-Whirl, Atlantis Jump House, Mutation Fun House, Scrambler, Starship, Steph's Express and Swings for children and the young at heart all weekend.  Again in 2011: All Day Ride pass and discounted special pricing.

•                    Children’s Identification Program – have your child complete an ID kit and keep a set of fingerprints.  This helps promote your child’s safety. This program is under the direction of Oregon Police Division.

•                    Face painting and clowns making balloon animals – Saturday and Sunday

•                    Swiss Steinstossen – Centuries old authentic Swiss stone throwing contest.  In this competition, men and women will throw large stones (138 pounds and 75 pounds, respectively) in a designated area and the winner will be the one throwing his or her stone the longest distance.  Prizes will be awarded on both categories.  Entry in this event is open to the public.  (The Ohio women’s record was set right here at the 2007 German-American Festival!)  No pre-entry required.  Contests start at 3:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

•                    Soccer game and matches on Saturday.

•                    Glockenspiel – While it’s not exactly like the famous Glockenspiel in Munich, Germany, come and enjoy a live version – a popular attraction for the last eight years.  Performance on the hour above the Wein Bar.

•                    German-language Worship Service – Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. with special music by our own Teutonia Männerchor & Damenchor and Toledo Swiss Singers.  Free admission to Festival after the Service.

•                    Import Haus – featuring imported steins, linens, and other gift items.  Master woodcarver Berndt Fehrenbach will be displaying Black Forest Cuckoo clocks and other wares.  Again in 2011:  Through an exclusive arrangement with Build-a-Bear Workshop® we feature our mascot raccoons, Moritz and Mitzi, in stuffed animal form in Mitzi’s Hütte!

•                    Trachtenzelt – features German wearables and souvenirs by Bavarian Specialties of Frankenmuth, Mich.

•                    ATM – is available adjacent to the Guest Services tent; food & beverage tickets available by credit/debit card in throughout the Festival grounds.

•                    Sidewalk Café – enjoy Kuchen, Strudels, cookies, and a variety of other homemade pastries.  This is a very pleasant and relaxing place to sit down at a cozy table to enjoy your favorite dessert and coffee.  Returning in 2011: German Dessert Baking Contest on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.  Submit entry to the Sidewalk Café (along with the recipe) on the day of the event!

•                    Lebkuchenherz – our own homemade, hand decorated gingerbread hearts – just like at the Oktoberfest in Munich!

•                    Swiss Essen Haus – Indoor/outdoor Swiss Bäckerei featuring many types of European-style and imported cheeses, breads, and meats.  Sausages, sandwiches and roast pork dinners are made to order.

•                    Maxi-Cooker – in order to ensure that each of the thousands of chickens served at the German-American Festival is perfectly cooked, we have a chicken cooker with state of the art controls.

•                    Potato Pancakes – enjoy hand made potato pancakes made the old German way.

•                    Schnitzel Sandwiches – masterfully made in front of you, served on a Kaiser roll.

•                    And plenty of other food items – ham shanks, Bratwurst, jalapeño Wurst, smoked Wurst, Brat patty sandwiches, pretzels, funnel cakes, Leberkäs platters, Sauerkraut, cheddar Wurst, hand made potato salad, Sauerkraut balls, hand cut Pommes Frites, ice cream, cream puffs, pickles, landjäger, sweet corn and freshly popped popcorn! New in 2011: Leberkässemmel – a quarter pound of veal loaf on a Kaiser roll! A sandwich to be served in the Fest Zelt.

•                           Featured Beers – Returning in 2011, our light beer: Labatt Blue Light and from Germany our featured beers: Warsteiner Pilsner, Warsteiner Dunkel (Dark), Warsteiner Oktoberfest, König Ludwig Weisse, Spaten Premium Lager, Spaten Dunkel (Dark), Spaten Oktoberfest, Spaten Optimator, Franziskaner Weissbier, Franziskaner Dunkel (Dark), Hofbräu Dunkel, Hofbräu Original, and Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier.  Our other great imported beers are: Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock, Ayinger Oktoberfest Bier, Bitburger, Hacker-Pschorr München, Hacker-Pschorr Weisse, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier, Paulaner Salvator, Erdinger Hefe, and Köstritzer Schwarzbier. New this year: Ayinger Weizenbock, Ayinger Dunkel (Dark), Hofbräu Hefeweizen, Paulaner Lager, Paulaner Premium Pils, Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier, Schneider Unser Aventinus, Schneider Weisse, Tucher Kristallweizen, Augustiner Maximator (Dark), and Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen served in the German Bier Garten and throughout the Festival!  We proudly feature one of the largest collections of German beers at any Festival (more than the famed Oktoberfest in Germany!)!  Returning in 2011 is the German Bier Tour – obtain a Bier Tour card, have your card stamped and receive a Bier Glas.

•                    Our featured cocktail: Imagine our new signature drink, the German Chocolate Cupcake!  It tastes just like everyones’ favorite: German’s™ Chocolate Cake – oh so tasty!

•                   Our wine list includes: Schlink Haus Auslese, Kabinett, Dornfelder, Riesling QbA and Spätlese, Schmitt Sohne Piesporter; and Sutter Home Chardonnay and Moscato.  Wine tasting on Saturday and Sunday in the Wein Garten.  New in 2011: Der deutsche Wein-Flug – sample six great German wine varieties to help you find the one you enjoy the most!

•                    Our soft drink specialties: We proudly serve Pepsi products!

•                    Give Trash the Boot! Returning in 2011! Plastic boot shaped souvenirs for you to take home.  Drinking from a boot or Stiefel is a long-time German tradition.  Made popular in the film „Beerfest!“  Also other initiatives to reduce trash going to landfills.

2010 Steinstossen Competition Results:

SATURDAY, August 28, 2010

Women:

1st - Laura Berlincourt - 9'-5"

2nd - Mary Alderman - 6'-11"

3rd - Kelly DeMiglio - 5'-8.25"

Men:

1st - Zach Diekman - 12'-9"

2nd - Nathan Powell - 11'-8"

3rd - Joe Upham - 11'-3"

SUNDAY, August 29, 2010

Women:

1st - Laura Berlincourt - 9'-3"

2nd - Kelly Hufford - 9'-2.5"

3rd - Stephanie Meinke - 7'-5"

Men:

1st - Zach Diekman - 12'-11"

2nd - Michael Ackerman - 11'-2"

3rd - Nathan Powell - 10'-10.5"

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Masskrugstemmen:

FRIDAY, August 27, 2010

Men&Women (not enough women for separate category)

1st - Zven Minch - 4:53

2nd (tie) - Steven Stein & Luke Wunderlin

SATURDAY, August 28, 2010

Women:

1st - Salise Timmons - 2:27

2nd - Jenny Estes - 2:26

3rd - Emily Navjaks - 1:36

Men:

1st - Paul Kupsek 5:33  ** GAF Record

2nd - Jeff Rice - 5:12

3rd - Steve Funk - 5:07