Rachel Yeager | Montana Kaimin | Oct 10, 2024
Caras Park was filled with the vibrant sounds and hearty flavors of German culture on Sunday at Missoula’s annual Germanfest, drawing crowds for a day of traditional music, dance and food.
ARTS Missoula’s Global and Cultural Affairs office hosted the 31st annual Germanfest. Attendees enjoyed bratwursts, pretzels and other German dishes.
Elijah Miller and Frances Connery take turns spining each other around while the band plays folk music on Oct. 6th, 2024.
Germanfest celebrates the sister city relationship between Missoula and Neckargemünd. The two cities became sisters after a professor from the University of Montana and a professor from the University of Heidelberg participated in a Fulbright exchange and noticed their similarities. In 1993, mayors of both towns signed a pledge of friendship, making the siterhood official. ARTS Missoula’s Germanfest is not a fundraiser, but funds made during the event go back to programs to increase access to cultural experiences.
For years, ARTS Missoula has focused on high school and university student exchanges, although the high school program hasn’t been active for a few years. Almost 500 young Missoulians and Neckargemünders have been able to spend time in each other’s cities thanks to this friendship.
The festival featured live performances by local bands playing traditional German music as well as dance performances that had the crowd clapping along. Guests were also supplied with many options of foods and beverages, including Bayern Brewing’s beer, which is brewed in accordance to the German law of purity.
In addition to music and food, anyone could release pent-up anger by slapping others with a foam fish until someone spits out the water in their mouth. The festival also had activities for children, like a blow-up ax-throwing area. Or they could test their strength at a stein-holding competition, where a glass is filled to the brim and people hold it straight out as long as possible.
Overseeing these competitions was local Montanan, David Sturzen, a competitive stein-holding champion. Sturzen was hard to miss, walking around with his giant championship belt and his grandpa’s pin-covered hat. He said he never does a competition without it.
“It’s great to meet new people. I love to coach as well, and I do a lot of judging now and since I’m German.” Sturzen said. “It’s just great to just celebrate my heritage.”
The festival aims to foster cultural exchange and strengthen the bond between the two cities. Attendees left Caras Park with full bellies and smiles, satisfied from the eventful day.
Michelle Parker smacks a foam fish across Ben Acree’s face as Parker’s children watch in amusement on Oct. 6th, 2024.
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