From left: Jeb Stratton, 9, Ty Fischer, 9, and Zach Nord, 10, compare their newly issued outfits prior to practice Sunday evening at Ackerman Oil. The Jasper German Club donated all the dirndls and lederhosen to the performers for the opening ceremony this year. <Photos and words by Matt Crane.>
This year’s Strassenfest opening ceremony has been turned into German Heritage Night with the addition of several events the crowd will have an opportunity to take part in.
Ten groups have come together to provide the crowd with performances, games, and dances all based on German traditions. While some of these events happen each year of the Strassenfest, a couple are new additions this year.
A new addition to the Strassenfest opening ceremony for 2019 is a kinderchor of 11 singers led by Mary Burke performing two traditional German songs. In the photo, the kinderchor performed during the Strassenfest opening ceremony rehearsal held Sunday evening at Ackerman Oil. The choir consists of Mary Burke, Kiersten Heim, Lily Saypharath, Victoria Gunselman, Breanna Smith, Elsie Tekoppel, Leah Jerger, Layla Prior, Zoe Moore, Sophie Schnarr, Riley Wiggins, and Vivienne Gunselman.
During the opening ceremony, a kinderchor of 11 girls will perform two traditional German songs led by Mary Burke. Before they perform, the Celebration Singers will be performing a song in German while the dignitaries are led to their seats and kinderchor enters the stage for their performance.
The children will also take part in a May Pole Ribbon dance during the opening.
In all 42 local children and teens will perform during the ceremony this year, more than double previous years.
The children perform the May Pole Ribbon dance during the Strassenfest opening ceremony rehearsal held Sunday evening at Ackerman Oil. According to Laura Grammer, director of the performances this year, introducing children to the performances of these traditional songs and dances and customs is important so they can appreciate their German heritage. It also allows the diverse cultures in the area to experience these traditions and gain an appreciation for them.
After the opening ceremony, the Jasper Rotary will present “Learn to Dance the Schuhplattler” to anyone wishing to learn the six steps to the traditional Bavarian dance. Participants get a free cookie and water.
Then, Chocolate Bliss will host the Schokospiel, or chocolate game. Participants will unwrap a cellophane-wrapped ball while wearing oven mitts to find wooden nickels that can be exchanged for special Strassenfest chocolate at Chocolate Bliss following the contest.
This will be followed with several German dance presentations as well as an original song performed by Courtney Heberer followed by the log-sawing competition.
All of these events are free to participants.
The Jasper Strassenfest runs from August 1 through August 4. More information can be found on the Jasper Strassenfest website events page.
Landen Weidenbenner writes a placement reminder on Lily Saypharath’s hand prior to rehearsal Sunday evening. 11-year-old Lily is part of the kinderchor set to perform during the opening of the Strassenfest on Thursday, August 1 at 6 p.m. 17-month-old Corbin Grammer decided he wanted to be part of the photograph of his parents, Morgan and Ryan Grammer, Sunday during the Strassenfest Opening Ceremony rehearsal held at Ackerman Oil. The Grammers will be the Night Watchmen during the opening ceremony in which they will ring the bell signifying the opening of the ceremony and perform other traditional duties during the Strassenfest.The maypole dancers confirmed they knew their positions around the maypole prior to the Strassenfest opening ceremony rehearsal held Sunday at Ackerman Oil. In all, 40 kids ranging from kindergarten to high school will perform during the opening ceremony on August 1 at 6 p.m. in Downtown Jasper.
Hannah Rottet, Huntter Fehribach, Breann Lechner, Grace Bartley, and Jonny Serrano will perform as the Wilkommen and Schuhplattler Dancers during the Strassenfest opening ceremony on August 1 at 6 p.m. The group rehearsed the Wilkommen dance choreographed by Laura Grammer, the director of the opening ceremony, during the dress rehearsal held Sunday evening at Ackerman Oil.
Nick Hedinger and Hannah Rottet laugh as they finish the Schuhplattler dance, a traditional German courting dance, during the dress rehearsal for the Strassenfest opening ceremony held Sunday evening at Ackerman Oil. The Jasper Rotary Club will offer Schuhplattler dance instruction after the ceremony as part of the festivities.
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Thanks to the Strassenfest Committee for providing FREE Family Fun for Thursday night at the Strassenfest. Kids will love being involved and winning prizes.
Great article! Thanks to all the volunteers who make the Strassenfest such a fun event!
This is such a great opportunity for all these kiddos! We can’t wait for Strassenfest 2019!
Looking forward to Strassenfest 2019!
Well done Laura and Paul ….your enthusiasm for Jasper and the Fest is greatly appreciated.
Thanks to the Strassenfest Committee for providing FREE Family Fun for Thursday night at the Strassenfest. Kids will love being involved and winning prizes.
Great article! Thanks to all the volunteers who make the Strassenfest such a fun event!
This is such a great opportunity for all these kiddos! We can’t wait for Strassenfest 2019!
Looking forward to Strassenfest 2019!
Well done Laura and Paul ….your enthusiasm for Jasper and the Fest is greatly appreciated.