2022 Jasper Strassenfest: ‘A Great German Time’

A great German time is set to be held in a new location in Downtown Jasper beginning Thursday evening with the official opening ceremonies kick-off the 2022 Jasper Strassenfest on the Willkommen Stage at 6 p.m.

While the Strassenfest has historically been held around the Jasper Courthouse Square since its start in 1979, this year, the location will change slightly to accommodate the Jasper Redevelopment Commission’s Master Plan to redevelop Jasper’s downtown area. 

The temporary layout will be set up as follows: The Jasper Jaycees beer garden will remain in its current location with the entrance moving to the east end of 4th Street. Booths will line 4th Street between the beer garden and the main entertainment stage located at the end of 4th Street by the Cultural Center. Der Deutscher Platz will be in the lot on 4th & Jackson Streets and rides will be running off of 4th on Mill Street. There will be games, along with picnic and entertainment seating set up in the Cultural Center and Library parking lot.

Additionally, the parade route has been updated as well. It will begin at the intersection of 15th and Jackson streets. Floats will travel south on Jackson before turning west at 9th Street and then returning north on Main Street and ending at 15th Street.

Following opening ceremonies, the parade to Glockenspiel will begin at 7 p.m., along with a variety of German games and activities. The parade to the bier garten will start at 7:15 p.m.

This year’s theme is “A Great German Time”, and Jim and Rita Corn will be honored as Hoffmarschalls. Bob Bleemel will serve in his second year as the Jasper Strassenfest Chairman.

The theme, “A Great German Time”, was chosen to highlight an exciting new addition to this year’s Strassenfest, a life-sized, handcrafted Glockenspiel that will be on display at the festival. The theme also emphasizes the continued commitment to keeping German heritage at the heart of what makes the Jasper Strassenfest such a fun and unique festival. 

Jim, a talented carpenter, stonecarver and woodcarver, volunteered two years to construct the Glockenspiel that will be on display and be featured in the parade. In addition to the amazing design and quality craftsmanship of the physical structure, Jim also hand carved the two snails and the Deutscher Verein logo that appears on the Glockenspiel.

Jim’s previous projects include the German Maypole located at the corner of Sixth and Newton streets in Jasper, a wood-carved snail on display in Pfaffenweiler, Germany. He has also been instrumental in the construction of the Strassenfest German Club booths.

Rita brought her design talents in color, style, balance and floral arrangements to the Glockenspiel. She is a past member of the Strassenfest Committee and performed the May Pole Dance with other members of the German Club during those years.

Jim and Rita have been members of the Deutscher Verein for over 40 years serving in various leadership and support roles in the club. They were previously recognized for their commitment to building German Roots in Dubois County as recipients of the German Heritage Award in 2014.

Then, on Saturday evening, the community will be visited by Consul General Wolfgang Moessinger, Honorary Consul Sven Schumacher, and Drs. Giles and Dolores Hoyt. At approximately 7:10 p.m., the Consul General and Honorary Consul will be addressing the crowd from the Glockenspiel Stage. Consul General Moessinger has led the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Chicago since July, 2019 and Honorary Consul Schumacher is based in Indianapolis.

While the festival has been moved, downtown shops in Jasper will remain open for patrons.

Check out https://jasperstrassenfest.org/events/ for the events schedule and more information.