46th German-American Festival
46th German-American Festival
Returns to Oak Shade Grove in Oregon
Toledo, OH … August 15, 2011 – A late summer tradition cherished by Toledoans of all ages and ethnicities, the German American Festival (GAF) brings thousands together for a weekend of authentic German fun. This year’s festival will open Friday, August 26th and features time-honored favorites and exciting new attractions, events and entertainment.
From continuous live music on three stages to a pretzel eating contest to dozens of German beers imported for the occasion, the seven German- and Swiss-American societies who sponsor the festival go all out to ensure that there’s something for everyone in the diverse crowd the festival attracts. “This year we are anticipating attendance to be upward of 30,000,” says Festival Chair Timothy Pecsenye. “That’s a tremendous boon to our societies and the many deserving philanthropic programs we support.” Among its many contributions, the GAF is the Toledo area’s largest supporter of high school level foreign language education.
The festival is located on ten beautiful wooded acres, so attendees have plenty of room to spread out while enjoying a cornucopia of authentic German foods -- all cooked by authentic German people. At last year’s festival, attendees consumed a ton and a half of German potato salad! Schnitzel, sauerkraut, Lebkuchen, strudel and all manner of sausage are also among the traditional German foods festivalgoers can savor.
Music and dancing are entertainment highlights of the GAF. This year’s featured band, Austrian Express, hails from Milwaukee, and has been livening up Oktoberfests and other festivals with traditional tunes for more than 20 years. The festival grounds are dotted with dance floors, where both professional and amateur dancers kick up there heels all weekend long.
Several contests also keep things lively during the festival. Try your hand at Steinstossen, a traditional Swiss stone throwing contest. See if you can beat the record for holding the Masskrug -- a full one-liter beer stein – in one hand, with your arm fully extended from your body. Sound easy? The current United States Record is just over 14 minutes! The Hummel Look-Alike contest (for kids aged 2 through 10) is an instant smile-generator—so everyone wins in the end.
On Sunday morning, the festival offers a unique opportunity to attend German language worship services. The service begins at 10:30. Uplifting music by our own Teutonia Männerchor & Damenchor and Toledo Swiss Singers will accompany the service. As a special thank you to those attending worship services, the festival is offering free admission following the service.
FESTIVAL HOURS
Friday, August 26, 2011: 6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. (Parade and Opening Ceremonies begin at 8:00 p.m.)
Saturday, August 27, 2011: 2:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Sunday, August 28, 2011: 12:00 Noon – 11:00 p.m. with a German Language worship service at 10:30 a.m.
ADMISSION
Admission to the festival is $7.00 per person. Children 12 years of age and under admitted at no charge all weekend when accompanied by a parent or guardian to make it easier for families to attend. But you can avoid waiting in line to get a ticket – and save a dollar on each ticket, too – by purchasing online at www.germanamericanfestival.net or www.gafsociety.org/fest.htm. Two and three day admission passes are also available online in case you don’t want to miss a minute of the fun.
Admission Tickets are also available at Arnie’s Westgate; Berger’s Olde Tyme on Laskey; Shawn’s Irish Tavern on Heatherdowns and on Third St. in Waterville; Manhattan’s Restaurant, Bretz Bar, The Attic on Adams, Wesley’s Bar & Grill, the Ottawa Tavern, Ventura’s Original Mexican Cantina on Bancroft, Mayfly Tavern in Point Place and Yeeha’s Buckin’ Bar & Grill on Navarre in Oregon.
The festival is also offering these special Sunday discounts: Active military, police, fire, or EMS personnel will be admitted at no charge (with proof of employment) on Sunday. Senior citizens with Golden Buckeye cards (or equivalent) will be admitted for $1 discount from general admission on Sunday at the gate.
PARKING
There are over 70 acres of free, lighted parking at the festival. 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.
SHUTTLE TICKETS
Shuttle tickets cost $6.00 and may be purchased at Shawn’s Irish Tavern on Heatherdowns and on Third St. in Waterville; Manhattan’s Restaurant, Bretz Bar, Wesley’s Bar & Grill, the Ottawa Tavern, Ventura’s Mexican Cantina on Bancroft, and Yeeha’s Buckin’ Bar & Grill on Navarre in Oregon. Yeeha’s provides a complimentary shuttle service. You may also purchase shuttle tickets online and print them at home at one of these websites: www.germanamericanfestival.net or www.gafsociety.org/fest.htm.
SHUTTLE DEPARTURE LOCATIONS
Two additional shuttle locations have been added this year to make attending the 2011 GAF even easier.
Arnie’s Westgate
Berger’s Olde Tyme on Laskey Rd.
Lucas County Recreation Center
Mayfly Tavern on Summit St.
The Attic on Adams in Toledo Uptown
SHUTTLE DEPARTURE TIMES
Friday, August 26, 2011 – 6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Saturday, August 27, 2011 – 4:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Last shuttle departs from parking pick-up location at 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Last GAF shuttle departs from Festival Grounds at 1:00 a.m.
Special Sunday Shuttle: Sunday, August 28, 2011 – 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. from Arnie’s Westgate only. Last shuttle departs from Arnie’s on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. Last shuttle departs from Festival Grounds at 11:00 p.m.
About the German-American Festival. The Festival is operated by the G.A.F Society, which is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. It is sponsored by the seven German- and Swiss-American societies in Toledo, and is intended to promote and enhance the German and Swiss cultures, as well as generate revenue to support the German and Swiss cultural center in Oregon, along with a variety of scholarship, athletic and philanthropic programs in the Toledo area.
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Press Release Contact Name: Tim Pecsenye
Press Release Contact Email: [email protected]
Press Release Contact Phone: 419-356-9790
Organization Name: German-American Festival
Website or Link: www.gafsociety.org/fest.htm